Don’t Drink & Drive During the Holiday Season

By Brandy Schaffels, AskPatty.com Editor. AskPatty.com is our Auto Expert

We’ve all got lots on our minds right now as we prep for the holiday season. Shopping, decorating, and planning for activities are at the front of everybody’s thoughts. Here’s one more important thing to think about during the Holiday Season: Last year, more than 1230 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and 171 of these drivers were under 21.

Adding to the danger of this holiday season, 70% of these fatalities involved a driver with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of .15 or higher.

The holiday season is a time of joy and warmth, as families come together and celebrate their good fortune. Often, alcohol is a part of these celebrations. Responsibly used, it can be a source of pleasure and relaxation for adults. Unfortunately, holiday parties and family get-togethers are also a time for drunk driving.

In order to raise awareness of the danger that drunk driving presents over the holidays, The Century Council has released a short web-based game that illustrates the danger of drunk driving over the holidays. Remember the old video game called “Frogger” in which players had to jump their frog across a river of floating debris while trying to avoid hungry alligators? When in “Holiday Hop,” players help their Gingerbread family to cross the a busy highway, while avoiding drunk and crazy drivers.

You can have your chance to play “Holiday Hop” here , and in between gingerbread crossings, The Century Council will share additional facts about drinking and driving.

The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking; through educational efforts such as lecture and video programs , The Century Council educates students across the country about the hazards of underage drinking and driving.