Drunk Driving: How to Stay Safe This New Year

drunk drivingWith the New Year right around the corner there will be many people out celebrating; some with booze and others not.  Having a safe, fun celebration at home is one thing, but getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is another thing.

No doubt, you’re probably all too familiar with drunk driving public service announcements (PSA’s), but H&K Insurance cares so much about your well-being that we want to remind you all again.

Penalties for Drunk Driving In Massachusetts

Massachusetts penalties for drunk driving are quite severe. A blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher gets you an automatic OUI in Massachusetts.

On first offense, the fine varies from $500 to $5,000, a maximum of 2 ½ years in jail, and a license suspension for one year.  If you take an alcohol education course, that suspension period drops to 45-90 days.

From there, the consequences only get steeper, and we haven’t even started talking about court fees and the cost to hire a lawyer.

How Much Is Too Much?

A 12 ounce can of beer, a five ounce glass of wine, and a one and a half ounce serving of 80-proof liquor all raise an average person’s BAC by 0.02%. If you do the math, the more drinks you have in an hour the more your BAC will rise.

Ideally, you wouldn’t consume any alcohol at any point if you know you’re going to be driving, but if you choose to have a drink please know that only time will rid its effects.

What About Friends and Family

While you can’t control people’s choices, you can offer your friends and family options.

  • Offer to take them home
  • Offer to let them stay the night if the party is at your home
  • Offer to call them an Uber
  • Offer to call a designated driver service like Dryver. Unlike Uber, Dryver drives the person home in their own vehicle so they don’t need to arrange a separate trip to pick up their vehicle the next day.

We wish you a happy and safe celebration and want to continue to be your insurance agency in 2018. Be safe, be aware of your surroundings, think smart, and be a voice of reason for others.