Crashes resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are preventable. Are you doing your part to prevent alcohol or drug-related crashes? We all need to take responsibility when it comes to driving under the influence by designating a driver, hosting responsible parties, making sure that you take the keys when a friend has had too much to drink, among other things.

Virginia is doing its part to decrease the incidence of alcohol-related crashes by enacting some of the toughest Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in the country. The Virginia Highway Safety Office and Law Enforcement will continue to spearhead programs to take drivers under the influence off the road. For example, the Checkpoint Strikeforce initiative is a regional, multi-state program designed to hold DUI checkpoints every week.

Tips for Hosting a Responsible Party

• Before the party starts, assign a responsible, sober designated driver and give the car keys to that person.
• Immediately stop serving alcohol to any guest who is displaying obvious signs of intoxication.
• Serve high protein, high carbohydrate foods. These help absorb alcohol at a higher rate than sugary foods.
• Make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available.
• Make sure drinks are not made with high amounts of alcohol.
• Stop serving alcohol several hours before the party is scheduled to end.

If you need more information, visit the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) website.

More Facts About Drinking and Driving

• Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s body as measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and the small intestine. It goes into the bloodstream, and travels throughout the body and to the brain. Alcohol is quickly absorbed and can be measured within 30 to 70 minutes after a person has had a drink.
• A BAC as low as .03 percent adversely affects driving ability. As little as one drink on an empty stomach can impair your ability to drive safely.
• A driver with a BAC of 0.15 is over 300 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.