Quaker Campus Article: A Designated Driver

As college students many of us like to celebrate the end of the week by partying, and at these parties it is no secret that there may be some drinking. For those who drink, it is important to do so responsibly. Not only is it important to monitor your drinking, but if you know that you are going to need someone to drive you back home after a party it is important that you look for someone you know you can trust. Maybe find a friend who does not drink or take turns being the designated driver among your group of friends.

A designated driver plays an important role by assuring that everyone makes it back home from a party safe and sound. If you take on the role of a designated driver, it is crucial that you stick to your promise and avoid drinking.

Once you agree to take on the role of being the designated driver, you should not go back on your word. If you go back on your word, the consequences can be dire. I myself lost my cousin because his friend did not live up to his part and drank more than enough which impaired his driving. 

In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that in that year alone 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired car accidents. They also estimated that approximately every 51 minutes a person lost their lives in a car accident due to drunk driving.

Now depending on who you are, you may think that something like this can never happen to you or that you can handle driving impaired. The truth of the matter is you never know what will happen to you, and if you take the risk, then you are not just putting yourself in danger but also the people around you.   

My suggestion to all of you is to assign the role to someone ahead of time. Do not do it the night of the party because by then nobody may want to take on such responsibility. Talk it over at least two days before a party. Also find a back up, preferably someone that does not drink and will not be at the party. Notify a friend that can come to the rescue if your designated driver cannot pull through for you. I always tell my friends that if they are going to a party and I am not there that they can call me to pick them up if things go wrong. Of course I tell them to tell me they are going to a party beforehand so I can be sure my phone is on in case I get a call.

If you cannot find a person who can drive you home after a party there are several taxi services you can contact. Some of the taxi services you can contact within the Los Angeles County are the Yellow Taxi Cab, 1-800-Taxicab of Los Angeles County, and The Happy Cab of Downey.          This all may seem like a lot, but realistically it is better to think these things through. When you go out to party you do not want to end up at the end of a night looking for a way to get home or doing something that you might regret. The only way you can truly party without a care in the world is if you know that somebody will be there to have your back.