6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drink and Drive, EVER

Photo by Burak Kebapci from Pexels

I’m going to preface this post by telling you that in 2018, I watched an innocent man die in the middle of the road, alone, after his car was hit by a drunk 23-year-old driving 100 mph. His wife died instantly in the crash; her body had to be carried out of the car in a sheet. It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever witnessed. NEVER DRINK & DRIVE.

There is nothing complicated about understanding the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. Nevertheless, some people continue to drive around while intoxicated. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9,967 people died due to drunk driving in 2014 alone.

While you may not resist the temptation to follow the crowd, it is good always to remember the consequences and stay on track. While most people reason they could just hire a drunk driving lawyer and walk away scot-free, this doesn’t solve the problem at hand. In case you ever want to get behind your wheel and drive instead of calling a cab, here are some compelling reasons to always shake you right back to reality.

1. You Could Serve Jail Time

No one is ever thrilled with the prospect of going to jail because of all the horrible tales they have heard. But if caught drunk driving, this is one of the things that could happen to you if you are lucky enough not to end up dead.

And if you are thinking about just a night or two for causing property damage with your car or knocking off someone, brace yourself as you could be looking at very long, painful years in that cage.

2. Your Insurance Premiums Could Go Up

Before you get behind your wheel drunk, just remember that your insurance premiums will be affected if you get caught. How so? Insurance premiums, to some extent, are based upon the driver’s risk. Therefore, drivers at a higher risk of getting involved in accidents should pay higher premiums.

A DUI conviction automatically places you under the “high risk” category, and resultantly, your premiums will spiral.

3. You Risk Losing Your Job and Professional License

In most professions, being convicted of drunk driving is enough to cause termination of your employment and seizure of your professional license. The chances of this happening are even higher if you hold a position of prestige or esteem or are an employee of the state or municipal government.

The professionals whose jobs could be in jeopardy if caught drinking include nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers, and police officers, among others.

4. You Could Kill Someone!

Perhaps the biggest reason why many people are rallying behind campaigns that advocate for sober driving is the fact that drinking increases your chances of causing accidents. In the process, you could cause injuries to yourself and other innocent road users. In severe cases, YOU COULD KILL SOMEONE. Imagine the number of lives you could be saving if you would choose to let that sober friend drive you home after a night of drinking.

There are SO MANY other methods of getting home (Uber, Lyft, public transportation); you should NEVER drive while intoxicated. Ever. There is no excuse.

5. You Will Have a Criminal Record

If you get caught by the authorities, your criminal record will display your charges. This way, future employees and any other person that wishes to do a criminal background check on you will always unearth this information. It will cost you a lot to fight criminal charges, and likewise, there will be a limit to your future opportunities. If you have addiction problems, you can always seek help.

6. You’re A Bad Example

By driving while intoxicated, what message will you be passing to your friends and family, especially those that look up to you? Of course, you’ll be telling them that whatever you’re doing is okay. But, unfortunately, they will find themselves in similar situations in the future that could result in dire consequences.

To sum it up, media houses and healthcare facilities have done their best to educate you on the dangers of drunk driving. Therefore, it shouldn’t take much for you to clearly understand how driving while intoxicated could have devastating ramifications. If you already do it, STOP. If you haven’t, don’t ever do it in the future!

Thank you for reading!