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December is national Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 30 people die every day in drunk-driving crashes.

You’ve heard it before: in driver’s ed, from law enforcement, on billboards and in commercials. But it never stops being important. Don’t drive a vehicle if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs.

When you drive to and from work, the store and school on a daily basis, it’s easy to forget how dangerous driving is. Driving a car that weighs thousands of pounds at high speed becomes routine.

But it’s important to remember the risks, especially when you’re impaired.

Holidays are particularly dangerous, with more people traveling and celebrating with alcohol. Stay off the road altogether if you can.

If you go somewhere to celebrate, make a plan and have a designated driver before you go somewhere where you expect to drink. If everybody’s had alcohol, consider other options like spending the night.

We understand that cabs and rideshare are less than ideal in a pandemic, but they serve another option.

Or, before you get to that point, moderate your intake. Don’t drink on an empty stomach, drink water alongside your alcohol and skip the liquor and spirits for something less strong. Limit yourself to a drink or two and give yourself a few hours to sober up.

Remember that driving distracted or when sleep-deprived is also dangerous.

Many of us have been in situations where we realized nobody in our group should be driving. When that happens, consider alternatives. Taking a risk could result in injury, death, losing your job and going to prison.