Did you know that 29 people in the U.S. die in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents every day?
That’s one death almost every hour. And the sad thing about it is there are measures in place to keep this from happening. There are laws per state about driving while impaired, sobriety checkpoints, health promotion efforts, and so on.
Now if you have a friend or a loved one who insists on driving while drunk, there’s only one thing you can do – stop them. But how exactly? Here’s what to do when someone is drunk and tries to get behind the wheel.
How to Stop Someone from Drinking and Driving: Good Cop Tactics
It’s easier to ask someone who’s still sober for their keys compared to when they’ve already had a couple of drinks. But if it’s too late for that, try not to be aggressive with your approach.
Talk in a calm and soothing voice. If possible, take them aside. You don’t want to embarrass someone who’s intoxicated in front of other people.
Also, try not to make a scene while asking for their keys.
That means no shouting or getting physical. Your friend or loved one wouldn’t want to appear weak when there are other people around. Allow them to save face, and they might even thank you when they’ve come to their senses.
How to Prevent Drinking and Driving: Bad Cop Strategy
Before you go for this strategy, consider if there’s a way you can take away the drinker’s keys while they’re occupied. Basically, you want to hide their keys so they’ll be forced to hitch a ride with you or find another way to get home.
However, if you’re dealing with an aggressive drunk person and no amount of talking can persuade them to give you their keys, there’s no choice but to use brute strength. But don’t hurt them.
The goal is to restrain the drinker and prevent them from leaving with their keys.
Just make sure to be careful as some drunk people fight like cornered animals.
What to Do When Someone Is Drunk: Your Last Resort
If you don’t like to be that friend who calls the police because you think it might hurt their feelings, you have to get over your dislike fast. Remember, their feelings aren’t as important as their lives and the lives of others on the road.
When you call the police and tell them that your friend is considering driving while intoxicated, they’ll try to stop that from happening. Plus, your drunk friend or family member is more likely to listen to the authorities than to you.
If the drinker is already on the road and has been charged with a DWI, he or she will be arrested and booked.
In North Carolina, a first offense means no jail time. But a second offense will mean at least seven days of jail time, and at least 30 days of jail time if it’s a third offense.
Most times, the drunk driver has the option to post bail in order to be released from jail. If this is exactly what happened to your friend and they don’t have any money to post bail, a Bail Bondsman will be able to help.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on what to do when someone is drunk!
