Please Don't Drink and Drive

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

www.thenewsyneighbour.com

December Issue #110

By The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

Millions of people annually find themselves in a situation where they have had too much to drink. The majority of them will at least contemplate whether or not it would be safe for them to drive
home, but the fact is that it is never safe to drive when you are intoxicated. Even if you are only slightly buzzed, your reflexes will be stunted and you will present a danger to other motorists and
yourself. It is never worth the risk to drive while you are drunk, but if you still feel tempted to, then you should closely consider the following five points before you get behind the wheel:

A DUI is Expensive - Even if you have never been convicted of a DUI before, you can expect to pay at the very least $1000.00 up to $5000.00 - plus, a criminal conviction, a criminal record, a three (3)
month pre-trial driving suspension; a Federal one (1) year driving prohibition; a Provincial one (1) year driving suspension to run concurrently (at the same time) as the Federal driving prohibition;
Skyrocketing of Insurance; Loss of Job? Travel problems? Many people will say that it is too expensive to take a taxi home, especially if they will have to take another taxi ride in the morning
to pick up their vehicle, but at least you will not have a criminal record!

Drunk Drivers Kill People – Thousands of people die each year in Canada as a result of a drunk driver. If you choose to drive while you are intoxicated, you are literally taking the lives of everyone
else on the road into your own hands. Not only is everyone else around you at risk, but you also run the risk of killing yourself. If you do not want to spend the rest of your life in jail or end up at
the county morgue, then you should put your keys away when you are drunk.

You Could Lose Your Job - A DUI conviction can cause you to lose your job, especially if you are required to drive as a condition of your employment. Not only will you be dealing with exorbitant
legal fees, but you might have to do so without being employed. This scenario could ruin your financial life and cause you to file for bankruptcy.

Your Insurance Rates Will Go Up - Most insurance companies have a clause that allows them to either raise your rates or cancel your policy if you are convicted of a DUI. If you lose your policy,
then it will be extremely difficult to find a new insurance company that is willing to sign you to a new one.

Your Personal Relationships will Suffer - The strain of dealing with the financial and social implications of a DUI is often too much for a couple to deal with. If you have children, you will also have to deal with both their disappointment and the issue of setting a bad example.