4 Preventative Steps to Avoid Facing a DUI

Everyone knows that drinking and driving is a dangerous choice. Alcohol impairs your vision and hearing senses, decreases your muscle coordination, and slows down your reaction times. Drinking and driving not only puts you at risk for injury but other passengers in the car with you as well as other drivers on the road.

While it has been repeated time and time that impaired driving is an expensive gamble, many don’t understand or take into account the financial consequences of drinking and driving – until they are charged with a DUI. The cost of a DUI is more severe than many think. Drunk driving constitutes a criminal offense, in which you may face jail time, loss of your driver’s license, fines, higher car insurance rates, and possibly employment consequences.

But, it doesn’t have to turn out like this.

Some of the useful measures you can take to help prevent impaired driving accidents from occurring include:

1. Ask someone to abstain from alcohol – If you’re going out with a group of people, ask an individual to be a designated driver and to refrain from drinking.
2. Call a friend or a taxi for a ride – If you feel as though you’re not sober enough to drive, call a friend or family member, or a cab. It’s safer to face anger from your parents or pay a hefty taxi bill than facing the cost of a DUI.
3. Be careful who you ride with – If you are the passenger, ensure that the driver is not intoxicated and able to drive. If you feel as though the driver cannot drive, be sure to take the keys and call for a ride.
4. Take note of odd behavior by other cars – When driving, take note of any bizarre driving by other vehicles as drivers around you may be under the influence. If you are suspicious or concerned for your safety, call the police.

While these actions seem simple, they are preventative measures to avoid facing a DUI. If you are ever in the situation in which you are accused of a DUI, you should seek the legal aid of an experienced DUI lawyer to represent you and help you fight your case. Although you may feel as though pleading guilty may be cheaper since hiring a lawyer can be costly, remember that the cost of a DUI conviction is much more severe. Are you willing to gamble with your future?