Everybody knows that drunk drivers kill thousands of people every year. The full tally is staggering; the federal government's latest numbers state that more than 17,000 alcohol-related traffic deaths occurred in 2006. The worse news is that fatalities have reached a plateau. The anti-drunk-driving measures have lost effectiveness, as evidenced by the fact that death rates have not improved for several years. Now we approach St. Patrick's Day, one of those annual celebrations where heavy drinking and a general spirit of bonhomie are encouraged by long tradition. What to do? Be aware and be prepared.

Eight survival tips

1. Stay off the road. If you really want to avoid a traffic accident, or worse, simply don't be in traffic. This is especially true at night, when most alcohol-related fatalities take place. So stay home. If you're gonna party anyway, have the party at your house, make it a sleep-over for your friends' sake, or plan to stay over if you go to a friend's house for planned overindulgence. Be sure to arrive at your evening destination during daylight hours.
2. Use a designated driver. If you have to party at night, arrange for a designated, sober driver. It's best if the designated driver is selected before the party, and, of course, is a safe and reliable driver to begin with. When all else fails, take a taxi home.
3. Be a designated driver. Stay straight, save lives. It's that simple.
4. Know your limit. Will drinking two beers in one hour impair your driving? It could if you weigh 130 lbs. or less. Maybe not if you weigh 160 lbs. or more. Intoxication is legally measured by blood-alcohol content, or BAC. Any individual may process (metabolize) alcohol faster or slower than average. On the whole, alcohol Impairment is present in the average adult when the BAC reaches .05 percent. The legal limit, meaning the point at which you will be arrested for drunk driving, is .08 in most places. That's when the ability to accurately steer, brake, and judge distances is impaired for the average person. (See a handy BAC calculator.)
5. Ride in a safe car. Some crashes are unavoidable, no matter what time of the year it is. If a driver--drunk or otherwise--swoops into your path, you want to be in a crash-worthy vehicle. In general, we recommend people purchase vehicles that have performed well in both crash tests and our own dynamic evaluations. Understanding no one will buy a car for just one night on the town, consider taking a larger, more modern vehicle over an older model with fewer safety features at this time of greater road risk. (If you want a sobering reality check, see our safety ratings, as well as crash test videos.)
6. Wear seat belts. Wearing your safety belt is the single best insurance against injury or fatality in any kind of crash.
7. Ride in the back seat. Sometimes you can't choose the vehicle you ride in or who drives it. But usually you can choose where to sit. In most crashes, the rear seat is a better place to be than the front. Be sure to have the head rest properly elevated and wear a seat belt.
8. Watch out for the other guy. If you see someone on the road who appears to be under the influence, don't take chances.  Get the plate number and call 911.  You may be saving someone's life.

Sober reminder: Don't live to regret
Party time can end pretty suddenly when a drunk driver kills or maims himself, passengers and/or people in other cars or pedestrians. The pronoun "he" is used advisedly: In more than 80 percent of alcohol-related deaths, the drunk driver was a man. Alcohol-related traffic deaths aren't limited to drivers, though. More than 1,500 tipsy pedestrians get killed on the road every year, too. If still in doubt, see Tip 1, above.

Be safe and enjoy the holiday!

—Gordon Hard