Be Merry, Bright and Drive Sober for the Holidays
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Be Merry, Bright and Drive Sober for the Holidays

The holidays are a time to celebrate together and look forward to what the new year will bring. With many gatherings and outings featuring alcoholic beverages, it’s important that everyone steps up to stop drunk driving, which remains the main cause of road deaths in Arlington.

Since 2022, alcohol has factored in almost 75% of fatal injury traffic crashes in the County. With the holidays upon us and more opportunities to celebrate the season with alcohol, the Vision Zero team and the Arlington County Police Department have partnered for an anti-drunk driving campaign to educate the community on ways that we can all help stop a friend, family member, colleague or even a stranger from driving while impaired and prevent unnecessary tragedy this holiday season.

The anti-drunk driving campaign includes distribution of flyers and coasters at restaurants across Arlington that share tools in Vision Zero's resource page to encourage necessary conversations with family, friends, guests and colleagues about curbing impaired driving.   

Here’s how to help curb drunk driving in Arlington County: 

If you’re drinking:  

  • Designate a driver. Plan for someone to remain sober ahead of an outing for a safe drive home. 
  • Take public transportation. Arlington County offers multiple public transportation options including WMATA Metrorail/Metrobus as well as Arlington Transit (ART) buses. 
  • Use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft or local taxi services as alternatives to driving your own vehicle. 
  • Use SoberRide® during select holidays. SoberRide® is a free service that helps people get home safely after drinking. It’s available in the Washington, D.C., area on holidays when people are more likely to drink and drive. 
  • Leave your car if you’ve had too much to drink. Going back for your car the next day is a smarter choice than risking hurting someone or spending the night in jail. 
  • If you have a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby, ask if they can pick you up and give you a ride home or if you can stay with them for the night. 
  • Don’t operate a bike, e-scooter or e-bike while impaired. While these vehicles are an alternative to driving, they can travel at speeds high enough to cause major injuries. 

If you’re serving or hosting:  

  • Confirm that all people obtaining alcoholic beverages are at least 21 years old. 
  • Monitor alcohol consumption. 
  • Promote safe transportation options by displaying safe-ride programs in the bar/restaurant. 
  • Offer incentives for designated drivers, such as discounts on non-alcoholic drinks. 
  • Offer non-driving options for your guests. 
  • Have a jar for car keys that’s monitored by staff.   
  • Mindfully serve drinks to ensure no one is over served and provide food/water to slow the absorption of alcohol. 

If you suspect an impaired driver is on our roads, contact ACPD at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.  

ACPD and law enforcement nationwide will be conducting increased saturation patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers during the holiday season as part of the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

For more information on the County’s ongoing transportation safety work, visit the Vision Zero program page. 

Media Contact

Kiara Candelaria Nieves
kcnieves@arlingtonva.us
703-228-4951

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