Holiday Season

The holiday season should be a time of joy and togetherness, not tragedy. As friends, families and coworkers gather to celebrate this winter, TxDOT's Drive Sober. No Regrets. statewide impaired driving campaign wants drivers to remember to never get behind the wheel after drinking any amount of alcohol.

If you think you might drink at all, arrange a sober ride ahead of time. You always have options for a sober ride, like taxis, rideshares or public transportation. If you see that someone at a holiday gathering has been drinking, encourage them to find a sober ride or to stay put until they are sober. Helping to prevent a potential crash is worth any temporary awkwardness.

Drunk driving crashes are completely preventable, yet they can cause physical, emotional, and financial consequences that last for years. Alcohol-related crashes can cause life-altering, disabling, and permanent injuries for survivors — and they can be deadly. A DWI can cost up to $17,000 in fines and fees and lead to jail time, loss of a driver’s license, difficulty finding or keeping a job, loss of trust from loved ones and a lifetime of regret.

The campaign runs from mid-November through the New Year’s Day holiday and supports a heightened law enforcement period from Dec. 13 through Jan. 1, when more officers will be on the alert looking for drunk drivers.

Visit SoberRides.org to learn about the real costs of driving impaired and tips to finding a sober ride. Follow the hashtag #DriveSoberNoRegrets to keep up with the campaign on social media.