Curbing Drunk Driving This Holiday Season
Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Partners with Local Businesses To Curb Drunk Driving During The Holiday Season With Coaster Campaign
Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) is partnering with local businesses to curb alcohol-impaired driving during the holiday season. ABS is distributing beverage coasters that feature a QR code directing patrons to an online list of alternative rides to get home safely when drinking. The coasters will be distributed to bars and restaurants free of charge.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement, and education for more than 1,000 businesses.
The coasters are imprinted with the phrase “If this text is starting to look blurry, it’s time to scan for a safe ride home.” The goal of the campaign is to provide an easily accessible list of alternative rides to patrons and deter them from driving after they have been drinking. Coasters are available in English and Spanish.
The online list that can be accessed from the coaster QR code features contact information for vehicle-for-hire services such as taxicabs, Uber, and Lyft, as well as local public transportation. It also includes the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide discount ride program for select holidays.
“As people get ready to celebrate the holiday season, we encourage them to make a plan for a safe ride home if they decide to drink,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “Drunk driving is a threat to our community and keeping our community safe is everyone’s responsibility.”
Nationally, drunk-driving-related crashes spike during the holiday season, particularly the day before Thanksgiving. “Blackout Wednesday” (also known as “Drinksgiving”) refers to binge drinking on the night before the Thanksgiving holiday. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, from 2017-21, more than 830 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver.
In a related development, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has determined that lives are potentially being lost due to a decrease in seat belt usage. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office said today that Maryland’s preliminary statewide seat belt usage, based on an annual survey, saw a rate of 92.1% – a slight decrease from 92.7% in 2022. The annual Roadside Observational Survey was completed in June 2023 and observed 33,882 drivers of passenger vehicles and trucks in 14 jurisdictions across the state on primary, secondary and local roads.
“Buckling up takes less than three seconds and is the single most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a car crash,” said Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Wes Moore’s Highway Safety Representative. “We want everyone to make it to their Thanksgiving dinners and holiday gatherings, and buckling up is just one way to help make sure you make it.”
Businesses that would like to request beverage coasters to participate in the initiative can email ABSLicensing@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov. Follow ABS on Facebook and X. And readers can learn more about the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.
