'Tis the Season to Stay Sober

Well, staying sober is a good idea for every season, especially if you're driving.

But there's always more attention paid to it at this time of year.

There are some radio ads on now for a paralegal outfit which dramatise what happens if you get pulled over by a holiday season spot check and get nailed for impaired driving.

Car impoundment. Huge fines. Possible jail time.

As these ads say, ONE drunk driving conviction could change your life forever.

Yes, it surely can, as the son of a friend of mine could testify.

Now, some of my best friends are paralegals.

And my Dad was a lawyer, so I understand that anyone charged with any crime has the right to the best possible defence.

But surely, putting yourself into a situation where you need a defence for impaired driving is just plain stupid.

It's not like impaired driving is any kind of an 'accident'. Nobody randomly forces four shots or four beers down your throat.

It is 100 percent preventable.

But only by each and every one of us.

The statistics show we're bad enough drivers when we're sober. If 20 percent of traffic fatalities are blamed on drunk drivers, then 80 percent must be blamed on sober drivers.

That said, based on the respective sizes of the 'populations', we are collectively twenty times worse when we're impaired.

And don't delude yourself into thinking you're OK with just one or two drinks. The legal limit is .08, but everybody - everybody - is a worse driver at as low as .02.

You may think you're a better driver at .02 than your brother-in-law is sober.

That's no excuse, because YOU aren't as good at .02 as YOU are at .00.

Why take that chance?

Call a cab, take the TTC, designate a driver, whatever.

You think impaired driving could change YOUR life forever?

While you're still sober, think about how it will change the lives of your victims forever.

Or maybe even end them...

Sorry if it means less business for my paralegal friends, but with apologies to Nike, my holiday message to all of you is:

Just don't do it.

 

Comments

[Barry Thomas]

Jim, I've heard that same ad and it offends me. When I'm out I don't touch any alcohol - end of story. I still enjoy myself. If you drink and drive, suffer the consequences.