Staying safe during the silly season

AS the silly season ramps up, it’s best to have a designated driver, or catch a taxi home after a night out. Although it is not everyone’s favourite role, here are some suggestions that could make it easier on the one not on the beersies.

1. Being the nominated driver can have its benefits: selected venues around Otago offer free soft drinks. Simply text ‘‘driver’’ to 345, enter your details and select the bar to receive three mobile coupons to be redeemed for free CocaCola drinks. You can see which venues are participating in your town at www.coke.co.nz/driver/

2. If you are the driver, make sure your friends are not so tipsy that they are no longer controllable in your car. The last thing you need is a drunk friend giving you driving advice. Having someone behaving badly in a vehicle can be dangerous, and, if a passenger is proving too much of a distraction, pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.

3. Agree on a leaving time with your friends and ask them to cover the parking charges. You may invalidate your insurance if you take ‘‘petrol money’’.

4. People just want their transport arranged and don’t mind who drives as long as it’s not them. In which case it might be worth prearranging a taxi or minibus.

5. Remember that if you are the nominated driver, it’s best to have no alcohol at all, even one drink will affect the way you drive without you being aware of it.

6. Not being the designated driver on a night out can also have ramifications for driving the following morning. As a rough guide it takes the body one hour to rid itself of one unit of alcohol (a pint of beer or 250ml glass of wine may contain three units each). The clock starts from when you finish drinking, not when you start. If you can remember what you had you can always do a rough calculation but it should only be used as a guide.

7. Last but not least, if you are travelling the last part of the journey on your own, have an arrangement with someone to text them and let them know you are safely home.

Being the designated driver has its benefits. Not only will your workmates or friends owe you one, you may even enjoy the evening more if you can recall it all the next day and not wake up with a hangover.

Have a safe and enjoyable Christmas season everyone and designated drivers, remember that you are legends.