Heading out for your company year-end function? Tips to keep in mind
At this time of year things are starting to feel pretty festive, especially as businesses begin to wrap up a year of hard work. While everyone deserves a good celebration, it’s important not to get too carried away and neglect your safety, especially on the roads!
Sadly, as much as we’d like to end the year on a high note, this is also a the time of year notorious for road accidents and fatalities. In fact, statistics indicate that drunk driving accounts for 3.6% of all road crashes and fatalities in South Africa. So before you make your way to your year–end function, here a few tips to keep top of mind, courtesy of IMPERIAL Road Safety:
- Appoint a designated driver for the night
Before you head out, decide as a group who will be the designated driver for the night. This is normally someone who doesn’t drink or plans to stay sober during the function and will drive the group home safely, and more importantly, sober.
- Call a cab – at your fingertips
While the legal limit to drink and drive in South Africa is 0,05g per 100ml of blood – it’s advisable that you don’t drink and drive, at all as alcohol impairs your reactive ability. But for those planning to knock back a few drinks at the office party, the good news is that today, there are alternative, reliable and safe modes of transport to get you home, whether it is grabbing a cab, using a mobile app service, or someone who drives you and your car home – it’s all at your fingertips. Make use of these transport modes and avoid putting yourself and fellow road-users at risk.
- Look out for your colleagues
During the festivities, some colleagues may get carried away or enjoy the alcohol available at the function – more than others. However, much of being a responsible driver is also protecting your fellow road users. So, pay attention to your colleagues at the function, and if one of them insists on driving themselves home after consuming too much alcohol, step in and offer to call them a cab, or drive them home if you haven’t been drinking at the event. It’s just not worth it.
While this time of the year is always marked with festivities, our safety on the roads is paramount. And with all the options that we have available to us, there simply is no excuse for drinking and driving. Instead, choose to make use of all the available resources, and avoid becoming another statistic.
Also read: Will you be solo road tripping over the holiday period?