Driving while intoxicated is incredibly dangerous, and no one wants to watch an inebriated friend or loved one get behind the wheel. As Mothers Against Drunk Driving explains, the best way to prevent someone from drinking and driving is to designate a sober driver before the festivities begin.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go according to plan, and if for some reason your designated driver becomes unavailable, you may find your friend attempting to drive home while still drunk. Here are three tips to help you intervene:
- Remain as non-confrontational as possible;
- Find a mutual friend to help;
- And consider taking your friend’s keys.
If you or a family member is facing DWI charges in New York, contact Darren DeUrso, Attorney at Law. As your White Plains DWI lawyer, Mr. DeUrso will investigate your arrest, structure your defense and aggressively fight for a positive outcome of your case.
Call 914-772-8614 to schedule a consultation with a criminal attorney. Until then, read on to learn three tips for preventing a friend from driving drunk:
- Remain as non-confrontational as possible.
If your friend attempts to drive after binging on booze, your first response may be anger—especially if you’ve had a few drinks yourself—but getting confrontational will not solve the problem. Instead, try to remain as calm and rational as possible.
Remind your friend that you care and that you’re only intervening because you’re a good friend. In fact, tell your friend you would hope that he or she would do the same for you. If your loved one refuses to listen, it’s time to enlist the help of others.
- Find a mutual friend to help.
It’s harder to stand up to two or three people than it is to defy one. If you and your friend are at a social gathering where you have mutual acquaintances, see if someone else will back you up when you attempt to stop your friend from driving.
You do not want the inebriated friend to feel like you two are ganging up on him or her, but you do want to send a message that you care, and that more than one person thinks getting behind the wheel is a bad idea.
- Consider taking your friend’s keys.
If your friend still refuses to listen, you may have no choice but to take his or her car keys. Once you have obtained your friend’s keys, you can arrange for alternate transportation or set up a place where you can both spend the night.
If you are facing DWI charges, contact a criminal attorney from Darren DeUrso, Attorney at Law. Mr. DeUrso can assess your case and help you determine the best way to proceed. If you would like to speak with a White Plains DWI lawyer about potential defense strategies, call 914-772-8614 to schedule a consultation.