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AirTalk

How friends can prevent friends from driving drunk – get the keys

Officer Kevin Millan conducts a field sobriety test at a DUI traffic checkpoint.
Officer Kevin Millan conducts a field sobriety test at a DUI traffic checkpoint.
(
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
)
Listen 21:19
How friends can prevent friends from driving drunk – get the keys
Everyone knows drinking and driving don’t mix. But many of us do it anyway – especially during the holidays. According to new data released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one in ten drivers admitted having driven when they thought their blood alcohol level “might have been close to or possibly over the legal limit.” The good news is, drunk driving deaths are down in California. But car accidents – many involving drunk drivers - remain the leading cause of death for people age 1-34. And the risk of alcohol-related crashes spikes at New Year’s. So what’s the best way to prevent drunk driving? There are designated driver programs, free ride options, and of course, cabs. Another option is to call the cops. That’s what a 25-year old driver in Iowa did this past Christmas. He called 911 to report a drunk driver – himself. But what if you’re in the uncomfortable position of trying to stop a tipsy friend from getting behind the wheel – what interventions work best?

Everyone knows drinking and driving don’t mix. But many of us do it anyway – especially during the holidays. According to new data released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one in ten drivers admitted having driven when they thought their blood alcohol level “might have been close to or possibly over the legal limit.” The good news is, drunk driving deaths are down in California. But car accidents – many involving drunk drivers - remain the leading cause of death for people age 1-34. And the risk of alcohol-related crashes spikes at New Year’s. So what’s the best way to prevent drunk driving? There are designated driver programs, free ride options, and of course, cabs. Another option is to call the cops. That’s what a 25-year old driver in Iowa did this past Christmas. He called 911 to report a drunk driver – himself. But what if you’re in the uncomfortable position of trying to stop a tipsy friend from getting behind the wheel – what interventions work best?

Guest:

Erin Meluso, President of RADD, The Entertainment Industry’s Voice for Road Safety