During the holiday season, most will indulge in succulent rum cakes, spiked eggnog, and a little extra sherry to keep the soul warm on those cold, winter evenings.

The general rule seems to be “a little bit won’t hurt”. But a little can turn into a lot as the holiday spirit of giving permeates the party and liquor begins to flow like water.

You get behind the wheel of your car or on your bike. You have had too much to drink but you do not feel that way, you feel fine. You buckle up, or forget because you are too drunk. Then you take off, weaving down the road.

However,as a result of your careless act, you could end up spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair or in jail for putting the other persons life at such risk and causing bodily harm.

These potential situations could be avoided as easily as not taking your own vehicle to a party. But, as the Road Safety Council’s Roxanne Christopher notes, “it’s about making responsible decisions”.

“The public is aware of how serious the problem of drunk driving is in Bermuda,” she states. “It’s in the paper every Monday.”

And when asked whether or not there was a particular season for drunk drivers, she replies, “It’s all year round.”

“We are consistent with making education about drunk driving available to the public,” she says. “We provide education on alternatives to having fun and enjoying yourself safely. But it comes down to the individual making the right choices.

“The public has to realise that it’s not just their life on the line,” she says emphatically. “When you make the choice to drink and drive, you are putting at risk a mother, father, or child. You are putting another family at risk of suffering the loss of a loved one.”

For the problem to be eradicated completely, the practice of drunk driving needs to be-of drunk driving needs to become socially unacceptable, she explains. “It needs to become socially unacceptable for a person to leave an establishment or location knowing that they are intoxicated and still get behind the wheel.”

Ms Christopher stands behind educating children from an early age on road safety and rules.

“The responsibility of road safety needs to be taught to children when they are young, when they are first learning to ride a pedal bike. Like teaching them to use their helmets correctly and to make hand signals.

“You can’t expect a 16 year old to get on their bike and obey all the road regulations or not drive drunk when they have been disregarding the safety rules since they were children.”

Ms Christopher calls on the community to talk to each other.

“Family has much more of an impact than the Road Safety Council and the Ministry of Transport could ever have,” she concedes. “The people of our country know that drunk driving is wrong- it’s not something that’s new. Residents know that drunk driving is against the law.”

In their efforts to encourage safe driving practices, the Road Safety Council has created an initiative to reward those who chose to be designated drivers. In 2004, they launched their latest campaign, a plastic necklace with a pendant reading “RUOK2DRIVE”. The pendant glows neon when the necklace is fastened around your neck.

“They are only available for the Christmas and New Year’s Eve season, but last year it was hugely successful.”

Available at corporate functions, bars, restaurants and for home engagements, a person wearing this necklace and pendant is entitled to an agreed upon number of free sodas from participating establishments.

Look for them at the beginning of the second week of December.

She reiterates the importance of the community making the right choices, even if the drunken person is incapable of making the choices for themselves.

“If I were faced with it, I would just take their keys,” she says. “When someone is impaired they’re not rational, they may become difficult to deal with. But we implore people to make the decision to not let their family or friends get behind the wheel drunk. They might get mad but they’ll get over it.

“There are very few people who can honestly acknowledge when they have had enough to drink and are incapable of driving. Most people won’t realise it until after the fact.”

This Christmas DO NOT drink and drive! Be responsible!