If you have been through one Holiday season, you probably are all too familiar with Holiday parties.
Every year, I seem to be hit on all fronts, be it:
- work functions;
- private functions;
- family get-togethers;
- client appreciation events;
- friends dropping by; or
- simply just a simple night out.
That said, especially around the Holidays, excessive driving is a huge issue (as you probably already know) which in some instances can have some pretty grim results (read: getting behind a wheel).
So, what I thought I’d do is share some services that can help you navigate through the holidays without having to dial-down your party calendar:
3 Ways to Navigate the Holidays:
1. Operation Red Nose
Operation Red Nose is a really slick program designed to combat drinking and driving during the Holiday season. Geared for volunteers, people in need of a ride, or party planners, Operation Red Nose is probably the method most recognized by us Canadians as it is heavily advertised over the Holidays.
With a history dating back to the days where breakdancing was cool and Apple decided to launch something called ‘Macintosh’, Operation Red Nose aims to provide a volunteer driving service for all drivers who have been drinking or who do not feel fit to drive their own vehicle back home. It is an original and free way of getting a safe ride in our own vehicle without driving it!
2. #TAXI
If you’re like me, you know how much of a pain in the a$$ it can be when you need a cab, but can’t find one (especially during the Holiday season). What’s more, if you happen to be out-of-town and at a Holiday party (or any event where drinking is involved), you probably don’t know the name of a local taxi company. This…is not fun.
No more will you be the slave to the busy signal when you are trying to call a cab! Enter #TAXI (an intelligent mobile phone directory service that automatically connects people like you and me to taxis).
I think Cellwand’s #TAXI creation is really cool (and so does MADD) as they were the first company to recognize this opportunity. To use it, wireless users can dial #TAXI (#-8-2-9-4) on a CellWand customer network (North America wide now), and for $1.50 per call, you can either connect to your preferred local cab company OR request the next available cab.
If #TAXI isn’t something that is of interest, you could always refer to my how to catch a cab in 5 easy steps post. While this strategy is solid, it’s not bullet proof as I can’t guarantee 100% satisfaction over the Holidays. Jumping jacks may come a little easier to you after a party, though.
3. Assign a designated driver
Picking a “DD” is probably one of the oldest and most obvious (but sometimes the hardest) tools you have at your disposal. Obviously this means that one of your party will have to refrain from drinking whilst everyone else has a good time. The good folks at videojug made an instructional video on how to be a designated driver that hits the nail square on the head. I can’t really top that.
That’s it from me…
Have a great Holiday season!
darren
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