DON'T MIX ALCOHOL AND DRIVING, "WELL DUH!"

When I think of the risks of drinking and driving, the thought, "Well duh!" goes through my head.  Everyone knows how stupid it is to mix alcohol and car keys.  Unfortunately, some still haven't got the message, so if you are one of them, here is a "Well Duh!" message for you!

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study indicates that nearly 12,000 people died in automobile crashes involving alcohol consumption in the United States in 2008. This tragic statistic represents an average of one alcohol-related auto accident death every 45 minutes. Tougher DWI laws are one answer to reduce these losses. Educating drivers on alcohol awareness is another important step. The following educational tips about drinking and driving are important to remember and to pass on to young drivers.

• Never drink and drive. Be aware that neither coffee, exercise, nor a cold shower will sober up a drinker. Only the passage of time will do so. If a person does drink, a nondrinking driver should be designated.
• Apply a zero-tolerance policy to alcohol and young drivers. Young drivers are particularly at risk to be involved in alcohol-related crashes.
• Steer clear of impaired persons on the road and report these incidents to the police as soon as safely possible. Drivers under the influence of alcohol display certain driving characteristics, such as weaving or swerving, driving very slow or very fast, braking erratically, and driving after dark without headlights.
• Wear a seat belt and utilize defensive driving techniques, as these are the best defenses against an alcohol-impaired driver.
• Try to avoid driving in the early morning hours of the day, particularly on weekends due to a heightened exposure to impaired drivers. 

HELPING TEENAGE DRIVERS

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There are several things that parents can do to help keep their teenagers safe behind the wheel. We'd like to highlight a few of them.

• Coach your Son or Daughter. You should "coach" your teenage driver. Talk openly and frankly with him or her in order to determine his or her attitude about being behind the wheel. Work with your teen to set ground rules, such as the number of people allowed in the car, where the car may be taken, and curfew.
• Utilize Emergency Road Service. If you do not belong to a motor club, you should consider joining one that provides 24-hour emergency road service. That way, your teenager may call for help at any time if they need gas, need a jump-start, are locked out, or need a tire changed. You can also arrange with the motor club to provide service for your teen if they are in a friend's car.
• Have an Open Discussion about Driving under the Influence. While no one wants to think about the possibility of their teenager drinking and driving--or being in a car with an impaired friend at the wheel--we need to be realistic. History has shown that teenagers will experiment with alcohol. You should make it clear to your teen that driving after drinking is not acceptable. However, if they ever do drink, or are in a car with someone else who is impaired, make it clear to your teen that he or she can call you at any time of the day or night and that you will come to get them--no questions asked.

Two other effective, though more costly, things that can be done are:

1. Install a "Governor." Many vehicles--school buses and certain types of delivery vehicles are good examples--have a "governor" installed in them that restricts the amount of fuel that can be injected, thus preventing the vehicle from being driven over a certain speed. A governor in your teen's car may help keep him or her within the speed limits.
2. Install a Global Positioning System (GPS) in your car. You can program it to let you know where your teenager is driving at any time. With the GPS, you can set a radius of operation and the GPS will notify you if your teen has taken the car outside of that radius. It can even alert you when the speed limit is being exceeded. Finally, a GPS can notify you if the car is being kept out past an agreed upon curfew. We realize that this may seem like a rather extreme measure. Use of a GPS may best serve those parents who have a reason to mistrust their teenager.

When your son or daughter gets a driver's license, come into our office so we can review such options with both of you. It is important for you--and your son or daughter--to remember that, yes, your auto insurance rates will go up, but they will come down after a couple years of driving experience. However, the rates will really go up if your teenager has tickets or gets into accidents.

REDUCE YOUR SOCIAL HOST LIQUOR LIABILITY EXPOSURE

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 13,000 people per year (about 35 per day) are killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
Many of these tragic accidents happen after an inebriated person leaves a party -- an event in which the host of that party might be held liable for injuries and deaths to innocent parties. Although there might be coverage under your personal auto policy or homeowners policy if you (as the host) are held legally responsible for such a terrible accident, a wiser risk management strategy is to avoid or reduce the chance of loss altogether. With that in mind, here are some tips to consider if you (or a resident family member) occasionally host social events involving alcohol.
Surveys of youth indicate that the most common source of alcohol is the young person's own home. Thus, closely monitor social events your youth hosts to make sure there is no drinking allowed -- particularly any type of illegal underage drinking. It is wise to not allow your teenager to host a party when you are out of town.
Limit the amount of alcohol at your event.
If alcohol is served at your party, make sure that there is plenty of food. The consumption of food slows down the absorption of alcohol.
Encourage designated drivers and provide nonalcoholic drinks for these guests.
Look for signs of intoxication. An intoxicated person often has trouble walking, has slurred or loud speech, or is atypically uninhibited. There is not, however, a fool-proof method of determining whether someone is intoxicated because exceptionally tolerant individuals often do not show signs of tipsiness even though they are intoxicated.
Restrict alcohol to any near-intoxicated or intoxicated persons by offering instead some food or alternative nonalcoholic drinks.
Consider hiring trained bartenders. As they are trained to recognize and deal with intoxication, using professional bartenders can significantly reduce the risk and may help in defending a claim should there be one.
If you have a cash bar, use tickets and issue a limited number. Don't price alcohol too low because this encourages excessive drinking.
Do not allow the intoxicated guest to drive away from the event even if you have to take away his or her car keys. Instead, offer to drive them home or provide a free cab service. Soliciting the help of the guest's spouse or a close friend may help.