This article is presented in collaboration with MADD Canada’s Project Red Ribbon Campaign.
Holidays and other celebrations are the perfect opportunity to plan get-togethers with friends and family. While picking out the perfect outfit and adding hits to your playlist may be top of mind, it’s important to remember that impaired driving is especially high during any holiday season. Whether you’re attending a party or hosting one of your own, keep these tips in mind to promote sober driving and keep everyone safe.
When you’re hosting guests at home
When hosting a party at your home, it’s important to keep track of how your friends are arriving and how they plan on getting home. After all, if you know one of your friends has had too many drinks or used cannabis products and you still let them get behind the wheel, you could be held legally responsible if they end up in a collision.
Before the party starts, plan and prepare for guests to leave their cars at your place overnight by:
- Making space in your driveway for cars to park
- Contacting your local bylaw office ahead of time to find out if street parking is allowed overnight to spare your guests from unexpected parking tickets
- Pre-ordering cabs, designated driver services, and other transportation options before the party’s over
As your guests arrive, ask if they plan on drinking or using cannabis, and collect keys from anyone who says yes. Throughout the party, try to monitor how much alcohol or cannabis your guests are consuming. According to a national survey by MADD Canada, one in ten drivers think it isn’t a big deal to drive after consuming a few drinks, consuming cannabis, or consuming an illicit drug. In fact, some drivers will insist they’re okay to drive because they don’t feel impaired, they don’t have to drive far, or they think they can drive carefully. If you’re not sure whether your guest is sober enough to drive, it’s best to err on the side of caution and find them a safe ride home.
Despite your efforts to get everyone home safe and sound, you may have to make space for your guests to sleep over. Take these simple steps to keep your surprise overnight guests comfy:
- Make the bed in the guest room (if you have one)
- Blow up an air mattress or ask your guests to bring their own
- Stash some extra sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows in your basement or den
- Stock the bathroom with guest-friendly toiletries and clean towels
- Be prepared to serve coffee and breakfast to anyone who spent the night and expect them to stick around — if your guests were drinking until the early hours of the morning, they likely won’t be ready to drive home right away
When you’re attending a party at someone else’s home
When attending a party at someone else’s home, keep this advice in mind if you’re going to be drinking alcohol or consuming cannabis:
- Leave your car at home — you can’t be tempted to drive after having a couple of drinks if you never bring your car out with you in the first place
- Plan to use a rideshare service or call a cab, arrange a designated driver, take public transit, or stay the night
- Never ride with an impaired driver — even if your friend had a few drinks and insists that they’re sober enough to drive, find another way home
If you don’t plan on drinking or consuming cannabis, consider volunteering to be a designated driver for your friends. As the designated driver, it’s your job to get everyone home safely, so remember to be extra defensive on the road. While driving at night, your chances of encountering an impaired driver are higher than normal, and it’s even more likely now as one in four Canadians say they’ve increased their alcohol consumption since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you see a driver you suspect is impaired, call 911.
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