We're heading towards Christmas party season and, let's face it, being the designated driver isn't always our number one task. Everyone around you is embracing the night and you can often find yourself sipping a soft drink.
But it turns out there's no better time to be a designated driver than 2022. The UK's largest study of drinking behaviour showed that in 2019, 16-to-25-year-olds were the most likely to be teetotal, with 26% not drinking, compared to the least likely generation (55-to-74-year-olds), 15% of whom didn’t drink.
And YouGov research now found one in three pub visits are alcohol-free. The researchers found 16% of alcohol-drinking Britons would not have an alcoholic drink if they were meeting someone socially at all, whilst three in 10 British drinkers (31%) would have alcohol only if the other person does.
While having a few festive tipples with friends and family is part and parcel of celebrating Christmas, December is now the second-most dangerous month for drink-driving in the UK. And it’s not just Christmas that is the catalyst for the increase in drunk driving.
Research shows that New Year's Day has had the highest number of drunk driving offences in the last six years, with too many weary Brits jumping behind the wheel, keen to get home and back to their beds, while still over the legal limit from the night before.
With this in mind, to help designated drivers this Xmas party season, Carmoola has created a four-step guide to becoming a Designated Driver Legend. Here's the top tips:
Be ready for every type of passenger
Being a designated driver doesn’t have to feel like you are a taxi driver for your mates. Let’s face it, everyone is gonna have had a few drinks except you. But not to worry. Carmoola has conducted research with experienced taxi drivers on what types of passengers to watch out for and how to keep them in check:
The Nice One
Research shows that politeness is key when it comes to being the perfect passenger, with three-quarters of rideshare drivers saying they prefer a chatty passenger in their car, compared to only a third who favour a silent rider. Good manners are the best you could hope for as a designated driver, and three-quarters of drivers even said they value a simple ‘thank you’ more than a tip. (In this cost of living crisis! Still tip!)
The Planner
You know this passenger will be a fun one from the minute they get in the car and tell you all about the road trip playlist they have prepared, the homemade snacks they have brought, and the travel games they have packed for the trip. Just make sure those homemade goodies don’t make a mess, as 85% of drivers say there’s nothing worse than having to clean up after a particularly grubby passenger.
The One Who Knows a Shortcut
Rideshare drivers say that backseat drivers are some of the least desirable passengers to have, especially as it’s literally the driver’s job to drive. Almost two-thirds of drivers said that passengers with backseat road rage were the worst kind of passengers, so make sure you steer the chat away from the route and onto safer topics!
The Drunk One
While three-quarters of rideshare drivers say that drunk passengers are less than ideal, being a drunk passenger and not a drunk driver is 100% a better choice. As drunk drivers tend to ensure their journeys are very quick, with tipsy motorists usually driving no more than five miles while over the limit, at least the journey as a drunk passenger will be a short one! Just make sure any drunk passengers know where they live and be aware of any signs they might throw up!
The Wannabe Pop Star
One of the most annoying passenger habits is their desire to control the playlist. Messing with the radio, or singing along too loudly to whatever music is playing is a no-no as 41% of drivers say that wannabe pop stars are some of the worst passengers to have on board, and more than a fifth say asking to change the music was a pet peeve of theirs. Put strict playlist rules in place for passengers or threaten them with an awkward silent journey alternative.
Learn drunk conversation
Making conversation is difficult at the best of times. But when you are sober and they are drunk, even more so. But as a sober driver, drunk conversations can be hilarious (especially re-telling them the day after), a little too honest sometimes, and often very revealing. So we’ve created an art of drunk conversation, so you can become quite the conversationalist amongst your intoxicated partygoers:
5 steps to converse with drunk people:
Keep it simple and repeat sentences 2 or 3 times in a row
Slur the occasional word
Randomly raise your voice every so often
Have fun, talking to drunk people is hard
Enjoy the secrets they might reveal!
Don’t be left short-changed
Sure it’s never comfortable to ask for money or for how much but with the state of the cost of living you should go for it - it’s only fair and your passengers will understand. The cost to keep a car is expensive, and with fuel prices continually rising it won’t go unnoticed if passengers offer to pay for their share of the journey. A few pounds won’t go a miss and remember it’s still probably cheaper than getting a taxi or an Uber! To make it easier for you here’s a little pricing formula to work towards working out how much each passenger should pay:
Number of miles X £5 / number of passengers.
Have the perfect playlist for your drunk passengers
Not sure what playlist to keep people entertained (or quiet)? Whilst this is mainly down to personal preference, there is another factor to take into account when choosing your favourite Christmas songs - safety. According to a recent research study, those who listen to music at a faster pace while driving are more likely to drive erratically.
Dr. Simon Moore, a psychologist from London’s Metropolitan University found that “A fast tempo can cause people to subconsciously speed up to match the beat of the song. The optimum tempo of a song for safe driving should mimic the human heartbeat at around 60 to 80 beats per minute, and 55 to 65 decibels is the optimum music volume for driving.”
Aled Jones - Walking in the Air (67 BPM)
Bing Crosby/David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy (72 BPM)
The Drifters - The Christmas Song (75 BPM)
Sam Smith - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (75 BPM)
The Pogues - Fairytale of New York (78 BPM)
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (79 BPM)
Percy Sledge - Christmas Wish (79 BPM)
CeeLo Green - What Christmas Means to Me (81 BPM)
The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) (83 BPM)
Queen - Thank God It’s Christmas (86 BPM)
So there you have it - your path to becoming a Designated Driver Legend. Truth is, drunk driving is not a good idea - if you are asking yourself “do you think I will be alright” is probably a sign that you aren’t and it’s just not worth the risk for the sake of others let alone yourself. Whilst the festive time can be the busiest time in your social calendar, there’s no need to use it as an excuse to drink alcohol or overdo it and put yourself or others in danger. Celebrate sober, and be proud to be the designated driver this Christmas.
