The National Safety Commission Alerts
Safety is No Accident. Visit the National Safety Commission - America's Safety Headquarters for driver safety information, auto recalls and teen safe driver tips.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Decembers is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Now in its 28th year, December remains to be National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. Also known as the 3D campaign, it was established way back in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, in an effort to promote education on the dangers of drunk or drugged driving during the holidays.
With the festivities, events and parties that people are bound to attend this month, there can be no better month to be chosen to educate drivers about safety, beginning at the start of the month, and ending just before the new year. Here are some facts about impaired driving due to illegal substance consumption:
What can be done? Here are just some suggestions on how to avoid becoming part of the grim statistics:
Most driving safety organization support the drunk or drugged driving prevention program or campaign informing drivers via education. This year's focus for National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month is on getting the message across for the younger drivers, in order to keep them safe.
Public awareness coupled with highly-visible law enforcement campaigns will help drivers celebrate the holiday month, and not have to worry about being a statistic.
With the festivities, events and parties that people are bound to attend this month, there can be no better month to be chosen to educate drivers about safety, beginning at the start of the month, and ending just before the new year. Here are some facts about impaired driving due to illegal substance consumption:
- 1 in 3 fatal vehicular crashes involve an alcohol/drug-impaired driver.
- The highest rate of impaired drivers is young adults aged between 18 and 25.
- Even after the consumption of just 1 drink, decision-making abilities become impaired and drivers begin to lose their inhibitions. After 2 drinks, reasoning and memory are affected.
- 3 out of 10 Americans face the possibility of being directly involved in alcohol/drug-related traffic accident during their lifetime.
- Each year, alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion. (2002)
What can be done? Here are just some suggestions on how to avoid becoming part of the grim statistics:
- Plan ahead. Figure out a way to get home/be taken home in case there will be drinks in a party.
- Better yet, leave your car and don't get behind the wheel at all --- have a designated driver, find information about designated driver services, grab a cab or ask to stay over if the party is at a friend's house.
- Don't let friends drive drunk. Find ways to get keys from a friend if that friend has any alcohol intake. They may get annoyed, but it's all for their own good.
Most driving safety organization support the drunk or drugged driving prevention program or campaign informing drivers via education. This year's focus for National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month is on getting the message across for the younger drivers, in order to keep them safe.
Public awareness coupled with highly-visible law enforcement campaigns will help drivers celebrate the holiday month, and not have to worry about being a statistic.
Labels: alcohol, designated driver, designated driving service, driver safety, driving under the influence, drugged driving, drunk driving, dui, National Drunk and Drugged Driving, prevent drunk driving
Monday, July 19, 2010
A Look Into Designated Driving Services
With the risks associated with drunk driving, there has been an increase in the number of professional designated driver services. These are either companies dedicated to having professional drivers sent to where a client is and have them driven home in their own car, or extensions of transportation or chauffeur services or sometimes local volunteer organizations to prevent drunk driving.
If you plan to attend an event where there will be alcoholic drinks, consider a driving service in your area similar to some of these highlighted below in Washington, Texas, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina:
Zingo, several states
(http://www.callzingo.com/) - When you call up Zingo, insured professional drivers will arrive in a foldable bike, store the bike in your trunk, take your keys and drive you home. Fees are $20 for initial pick-up and $2/mile plus tip. Services are available Tues-Wed 9PM – 2AM and Thurs-Sat 9PM – 4 AM otherwise, the service is closed on Sundays/Mondays. What's great about Zingo is that their services are available in several states.
Sober Rovers, Washington State (http://www.soberrovers.com/index.php) – Available in Washington state, Sober Rovers are scooter-riding professional drivers who pick up a client and deliver them safely home for $3 pick-up fee and $7 per mile. ($5 per mile after 10 miles) There's even a special promo for a Rover Miles card, which lowers the rate to a flat $5 per mile.
My Private Driver, several areas in Texas and L.A. Orange County (http://www.myprivatedriver.com/designated-driver-service-dallas-fort-worth-austin-texas-los-angeles-orange-county.html) – This is a new service offered by My Private Driver, a transportation company. There are currently 2 options for their designated driver service: Option 1 "On Demand", which is currently only available in Addison, TX. Once a call has been made, a driver will be dispatched to a client's current location, deliver the client in their car to their home, and the company will send in someone to pick up the driver. Option 2 "Personal Designated Driver", is basically hiring a driver for the night, meaning that clients won't even have to get in the driver's seat for a night out. The service will start from the client's home and will end in the same location. Rates are $28 per hour.
The Pear Transportation, Pittsburgh (http://www.thepearcares.com/) - Touting themselves as the only designated driver service in Pittsburgh. For a pick-up fee of $20 and $2 per mile, a professional driver is dispatched to where a client needs to be picked up, drives the client in their car home and then The Pear will send a runner for the driver.
Buzzed Home, Asheville, North Carolina (http://www.getbuzzedhome.com/Home.php) – Upon contact, a driver will be sent to the client's location in a foldable scooter, drive the client home in their car and leave using the scooter. This service is available only in Asheville, with their schedules being Thurs-Sat, 8PM – 2:30AM. Rates are $25 for up to 4 miles and $3.50 per additional mile, plus driver tip.
There are other services available, varying in how they dispatch drivers and location operations. The companies all state they use a methodical screening process for how they pick their drivers. These services may cost a little bit more than a cab ride home, but it beats the alternative of potentially driving under the influence. This also ensures you do not have to leave your car parked overnight, potentially accumulating overnight parking fees, and you having to pick it up the following day.
Be responsible; consider a designated driving service over the alternative to help keep our roads safe!
Read more about additional Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving: Disposable Breathalyzers
If you plan to attend an event where there will be alcoholic drinks, consider a driving service in your area similar to some of these highlighted below in Washington, Texas, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina:
Zingo, several states
(http://www.callzingo.com/) - When you call up Zingo, insured professional drivers will arrive in a foldable bike, store the bike in your trunk, take your keys and drive you home. Fees are $20 for initial pick-up and $2/mile plus tip. Services are available Tues-Wed 9PM – 2AM and Thurs-Sat 9PM – 4 AM otherwise, the service is closed on Sundays/Mondays. What's great about Zingo is that their services are available in several states.
Sober Rovers, Washington State (http://www.soberrovers.com/index.php) – Available in Washington state, Sober Rovers are scooter-riding professional drivers who pick up a client and deliver them safely home for $3 pick-up fee and $7 per mile. ($5 per mile after 10 miles) There's even a special promo for a Rover Miles card, which lowers the rate to a flat $5 per mile.
My Private Driver, several areas in Texas and L.A. Orange County (http://www.myprivatedriver.com/designated-driver-service-dallas-fort-worth-austin-texas-los-angeles-orange-county.html) – This is a new service offered by My Private Driver, a transportation company. There are currently 2 options for their designated driver service: Option 1 "On Demand", which is currently only available in Addison, TX. Once a call has been made, a driver will be dispatched to a client's current location, deliver the client in their car to their home, and the company will send in someone to pick up the driver. Option 2 "Personal Designated Driver", is basically hiring a driver for the night, meaning that clients won't even have to get in the driver's seat for a night out. The service will start from the client's home and will end in the same location. Rates are $28 per hour.
The Pear Transportation, Pittsburgh (http://www.thepearcares.com/) - Touting themselves as the only designated driver service in Pittsburgh. For a pick-up fee of $20 and $2 per mile, a professional driver is dispatched to where a client needs to be picked up, drives the client in their car home and then The Pear will send a runner for the driver.
Buzzed Home, Asheville, North Carolina (http://www.getbuzzedhome.com/Home.php) – Upon contact, a driver will be sent to the client's location in a foldable scooter, drive the client home in their car and leave using the scooter. This service is available only in Asheville, with their schedules being Thurs-Sat, 8PM – 2:30AM. Rates are $25 for up to 4 miles and $3.50 per additional mile, plus driver tip.
There are other services available, varying in how they dispatch drivers and location operations. The companies all state they use a methodical screening process for how they pick their drivers. These services may cost a little bit more than a cab ride home, but it beats the alternative of potentially driving under the influence. This also ensures you do not have to leave your car parked overnight, potentially accumulating overnight parking fees, and you having to pick it up the following day.
Be responsible; consider a designated driving service over the alternative to help keep our roads safe!
Read more about additional Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving: Disposable Breathalyzers
Labels: designated driving service, drunk driving, dui, prevent drunk driving
Find us on Facebook