Stay Safe on New Year’s Eve: Don’t Drink and Drive | Scott's Fort Collins Auto

Stay Safe on New Year’s Eve: Don’t Drink and Drive

Don’t Neglect Your Car, Even During the Hectic Holidays
December 19, 2017
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Car
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Don’t Neglect Your Car, Even During the Hectic Holidays
December 19, 2017
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Car
January 2, 2018

乾杯Whether you plan to spend your New Year’s Eve partying in Old Town Fort Collins, going out to dinner with friends, or watching the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of your living room, odds are you’ll want to have a drink or two. There’s nothing wrong with drinking responsibly—as long as you don’t get behind the wheel of a car.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 728 people are injured or killed by drunk drivers every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This rate is two to three times higher than the average for the rest of the year. And the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that New Year’s Eve is the most dangerous holiday of the year for alcohol-related traffic deaths. Forty percent of fatal car accidents on New Year’s Eve involve alcohol, compared to less than 30 percent for the rest of December.

Stay safe on New Year’s Eve—follow tips from Scott’s Fort Collins Auto to make sure you don’t drink and drive.

Stay Sober

It sounds obvious, but skipping the alcohol altogether is a foolproof way to ensure you don’t drink and drive. You can still have fun without drinking! If someone offers you a drink, politely turn them down and opt for a non-alcoholic version of your favorite beverage instead.

Assign a Designated Driver

Going out with friends? Choose someone to take on the responsibility of designated driver for the evening. Make a deal to switch off each party you attend together to keep things fair.

Bring the Party to Your House

Staying home doesn’t mean you have to ring in the New Year by yourself—invite friends over to celebrate with you. This way, you can drink at your leisure without worrying about how you’ll get home. Remember to consider your guests’ needs as well, and don’t let anyone drive home if they’ve had too much to drink.

Celebrate Within Walking Distance of Your Home

Do you live near a restaurant or bar? Keep the party close to home so you can walk back to your house when the celebration is over. This option allows you to enjoy a night out while staying off the roads to help keep others safe.

Use Public Transport

Fort Collins has several public transportation options, including buses and the MAX Rapid Transit Service. If you live close to any of the transit centers along the five-mile Mason Corridor, you can ride the MAX downtown and back home again after the New Year’s Eve festivities are over. Special holiday service will be available this year to ensure partygoers make it home safely in the wee hours of the morning.

Get a Ride

If you find yourself intoxicated at a party, and it’s too far to walk home or to a MAX transit center, don’t resort to driving. You still have another option—call up a friend or arrange a ride from an Uber or Lyft driver. The most important thing is to avoid getting behind the wheel when you’re impaired. You can worry about getting your car home tomorrow.

Keep Your Car Safe with Maintenance at Scott’s in Fort Collins

Staying sober or relying on a sober driver is the best thing you can do to avoid getting in an accident on New Year’s Eve. Another essential step is to keep up with vehicle maintenance. If it’s been awhile since your last tune-up, visit Scott’s before the end of the month. We’ll make sure your car is safe to drive into the New Year and beyond!

Call our Fort Collins auto shop at (970) 682-4202 today or schedule your next visit online.

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