There’s a reason that nearly every local police force is out on a statewide crackdown called Over the Limit Under Arrest 2007 Year End Crackdown. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves. However, every year thousands of lives are claimed by drinking and driving, many of which occur during holidays where alcohol consumption is more prevalent. An average of 18,000 people in the U.S. die each year in motor vehicle accidents where alcohol played a factor.

So here’s a little word of advice. As the year winds down and you head out here or there to get the last of your partying in before 2008, keep a couple things in mind. If the party’s local, is it too far to walk? Can you get there by train, bus or even ferry? These questions should be answered immediately before heading out the door.

If you drive there, it doesn’t mean you have to drive home. As you pick up your beer or glass of wine and put it to your lips, look around the room and ask if anyone not drinking would be willing to drive you home. If not, consider asking the host of the party if you can spend the night. Rather than thinking it’s awkward to ask this simple question, just think about how awkward it would be if you killed yourself or someone else on your drunken ride home.