Designate a sober driver BEFORE the celebrations begin

Be Safe this Holiday Season, Don’t Drive Drunk or Drugged
​​​​​​​Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

There are many reasons to be merry this holiday season. Ensuring your loved ones enjoy themselves responsibly is one of the most important ways to keep that merry feeling into the new year.

That is why the Fort Belvoir Army Substance Abuse Program would like everyone to embrace the spirit of sober driving this season. December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.  This campaign aims to prevent the loss of life by stressing safe driving practices and reminding those you care about to be sober, drug free, and safe on the road.

“The message is simple: drinking alcohol and drugged driving do not mix,” said James A. Peters, Fort Belvoir Prevention Coordinator. “If you plan to consume alcohol, you should plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle.”

Unfortunately, millions of American drivers repeatedly make deadly decisions by either drinking or doing drugs before driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle. This jeopardizes their safety and the safety of others on our roads.

“We know that the holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to drunk and drugged driving,” Peters said, adding that in 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities - a 14% increase from 2020.  

 Fort Belvoir Army Substance Abuse Program recommends these simple tips for a safe holiday season:

  • Plan a safe way home before the celebrations begin. 
  • Before you celebrate… Designate.  Identify a responsible driver, use public transportation, or stay the night.
    • Don't mix alcohol with other drugs, including over the counter and prescription medications.
    • Avoid binge drinking and drinking games.  If you are even a little buzzed, you are impaired.
    • If drinking alcohol at a party or other celebration, allow at least one hour between drinks. It takes two hours to get rid of one drink from your body (one drink is a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1½-ounce shot of liquor).
    • Remember the word HALT: don’t drink if you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
    • If hosting, serve foods along with alcohol-free beverages, such as soda, juice and water.
    • Stop serving alcohol 1 to 1½ hours before the party ends.
    • Don't ride with someone who is impaired. Use other means of transportation such as taxi, public transportation or sober driver.
    • And remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride with a driver who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

 

For more information, contact the Fort Belvoir Army Substance Abuse Program
5815 20th Street, Bldg. 213

Fort Belvoir Army Substance Abuse Program