Which action best reduces the risk when you plan to drink?

Which action best reduces the risk when you plan to drink?

• A. Drive home before effects wear off
• B. Wait until you feel sober to drive
• C. Arrange alternate transportation or a designated driver
• D. Take extra caffeine and drive slowly

Answer: (C)

When you plan to drink, your coordination, reaction time, and judgment are impaired, which greatly raises the chance of a crash. The best way to reduce that risk is to arrange alternate transportation or have a designated driver who is sober and capable of driving. This means you won’t be behind the wheel while under the influence, which is the most effective way to prevent an impaired-driving crash. Waiting until you feel sober isn’t reliable, because impairment can linger even if you feel fine and your abilities don’t always rebound in step with how you feel. Relying on caffeine or driving slowly doesn’t remove the underlying impairment; caffeine doesn’t lower blood alcohol concentration, and driving slowly doesn’t compensate for delayed reaction time and poorer judgment. Planning ahead to get a safe ride is the strongest risk-reduction approach.

When you plan to drink, your coordination, reaction time, and judgment are impaired, which greatly raises the chance of a crash. The best way to reduce that risk is to arrange alternate transportation or have a designated driver who is sober and capable of driving. This means you won’t be behind the wheel while under the influence, which is the most effective way to prevent an impaired-driving crash. Waiting until you feel sober isn’t reliable, because impairment can linger even if you feel fine and your abilities don’t always rebound in step with how you feel. Relying on caffeine or driving slowly doesn’t remove the underlying impairment; caffeine doesn’t lower blood alcohol concentration, and driving slowly doesn’t compensate for delayed reaction time and poorer judgment. Planning ahead to get a safe ride is the strongest risk-reduction approach.