Stay Festive and Safe this Holiday Season

The holidays are a time of celebration. It seems like everywhere you turn you see people enjoying festive music and parties with family and friends. Holiday party invitations come in the mail, pop up in your inbox and even social media is filled with merriment and fun. But, in the blink of an eye – all of this festive fun can turn into tragedy with one bad decision – the decision to drive impaired.
Residents can do their part by keeping themselves and the City safe by driving alert, planning ahead and reporting drunk drivers.  Those who plan to drink are encouraged to designate a sober driver, call a taxi if things don’t go as planned or simply stay in and avoid driving altogether.
Thanks to public awareness campaigns, many of us know that DUI arrests result in dramatic impacts.  Depending on the severity of the incident and the number of offenses, fines can total more than $10,000.  However, the financial impact is just the beginning, as a DUI conviction can result in jail time, the loss of licenses and employment, higher car and life insurance rates and serious damage to hard-earned reputations.
These incidents typically don’t affect just the driver, as they can also result in life-changing circumstances for families, including the loss of a mother, father, sibling, friend or grandparent.
Here are a few things to remember this season:
• Just one drink can impair judgment and increase the risk of an accident.
• If you plan to drink, plan ahead and designate a sober driver.
• If you drink, do not drive.  Call a taxi, phone a friend or family member or use public transportation.
• Be a good friend and neighbor and look out for others.  Keep those who are drinking from getting behind the wheel.
• If you spot someone of concern, report potentially-impaired drivers using 9-1-1.
Please take a few minutes to plan ahead and make plans for safe travels – those moments of preparation could be the difference between life and death. The City of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department encourage you to take the pledge to drive sober this holiday season.