---
title: The dangers of drunk driving
---

# The dangers of drunk driving

* * *

In 2017, nearly 11,000 people in the United States died in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion.

**What can I do to help reduce drunk-driving**  **incidents?**

The best way to help curb the nation’s drunk-driving crisis is not to contribute to the problem. If you’ve had too much to drink, do not attempt to drive. Instead, call for a cab or ask a sober friend to take you home.

Likewise, never accept a ride from someone who has been drinking. Be sure to not allow intoxicated friends to get behind the wheel of a car.

**How can I protect myself from drunk**  **drivers?**

It is estimated that approximately four million innocent people are injured or have their vehicles damaged in alcohol-related accidents each year.

To protect yourself, wear your seat belt at all times, and make sure children are secured in child safety seats in the back seat. Be aware of the warning signs of drunk drivers.

**What are the warning signs of a**  **drunk**  **driver?**

Be cautious of any driver who:

- makes unnecessarily wide turns;

- straddles lanes or drives on the median line;

- drives at night without headlights;

- drives at speeds below the speed limit;

- brakes erratically or stops without cause;

- accelerates or decelerates rapidly; and/or

- nearly strikes an object or curb.

Follow these tips to ensure safety when serving alcohol at your next party:

- **Serve alcoholic drinks only upon request,** and offer nonalcoholic beverages such as sparkling water, fancy juice drinks and soft drinks.

- **Avoid making alcohol the main focus of the social event.** Entertain guests with music, games and dancing.

- **Always serve food when serving alcohol.** High-protein foods such as meat and cheeses take longer to digest, slowing the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol. Try not to serve salty foods, which make people thirsty and inclined to drink more.

- **Be careful not to serve alcohol to minors.** Limit access to the bar if minors are on the guest list, and verify the ages of young guests before serving them.

## Insurance Quotes

Give us some info and we'll help you find the best coverage options.

[Request a Quote](/quotes)

## Share This

- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.russellinsurance.com%2Fblog%2F2020%2Fthe-dangers-of-drunk-driving.md)
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.russellinsurance.com%2Fblog%2F2020%2Fthe-dangers-of-drunk-driving.md&text=The+dangers+of+drunk+driving)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.russellinsurance.com%2Fblog%2F2020%2Fthe-dangers-of-drunk-driving.md&title=The+dangers+of+drunk+driving)
- [Email](mailto:?subject=The+dangers+of+drunk+driving&body=Thought+you+might+be+interested...%0A%0AThe+dangers+of+drunk+driving%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.russellinsurance.com%2Fblog%2F2020%2Fthe-dangers-of-drunk-driving.md)

### Let's Get Started on Your Insurance Quote

We'll review your current insurance for gaps and offer suggestions to improve your coverage or reduce your premiums, depending on your needs.

[Talk to an Agent](/contact)

[Start Online](/quotes)

![A photo of the exterior of Russell Insurance's Southport office](https://webtricity-assets-2.wbtcdn.com/737e91e1-4ad0-4553-94cc-e236de4e37a6/images/upload/southport-23-1170x780.w540.q80.dd9372840a0937007d5212be2eea9ca093b7b5ac0b97dbc0f06379cbfc1c2a54.jpg)

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/blog/2020/the-dangers-of-drunk-driving#blogposting","url":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/blog/2020/the-dangers-of-drunk-driving","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/blog/2020/the-dangers-of-drunk-driving#webpage"},"headline":"The dangers of drunk driving","datePublished":"2020-02-14T08:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-30T01:10:37Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/#organization","name":"Russell Insurance"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/#organization","name":"Russell Insurance"}},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/#organization","url":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/","name":"Russell Insurance"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/#webpage","url":"https://www.russellinsurance.com/","name":"The dangers of drunk driving"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/blog","name":"Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/blog/2020/the-dangers-of-drunk-driving","name":"The dangers of drunk driving"}}]}]}
```