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Party Goer
Designate a Non-drinking Driver

Making responsible choices is something everyone can appreciate, especially when it comes to driving and alcohol. Health Education and Promotion (part of UC Davis Student Health Services) and local downtown bars have partnered up with the RADD program so the responsible choice is even easier to make. RADD – the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety- is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries caused by drinking while intoxicated. If you are 21 years or older, take the designated driver pledge!

Did you know men and women ages 21-35 are the greatest offenders of drinking and driving? Driving on the road while intoxicated is a gamble you don’t want to take. The consequences—from injury or death, to fines and jail time—are grave, with possible life-changing results. Perhaps the only good thing that can be said about driving under the influence is that it is so easily avoidable. Anyone can do it; all you have to do is plan ahead!

Just a few moments before the party can save you a lot of trouble later. Before you go out this weekend, consider the following:

  • Know who plans to drive ahead of time so no one ends up without a ride, or worse, with a car they can’t drive because they are intoxicated.
  • Know where you can leave your car. There are overnight lots, and even if you park in a non-designated area overnight, all you receive is a $35.00 fine. Compared to a DUI, $35.00 is an easy alternative.
  • Know the local cab companies in your area. There are several in Davis, and many offer student rates and discounts.

RADD Designated Driver Program

RADD Designated Non-drinking Driver Card: Are you the designated driver for a group of friends, or want to entice a friend to drive for you? Then pick up one of these from Health Education and Promotion. The RADD Card allows its holder to take a pledge of simply being the designated driver for the night and entitles them to a free non-alcoholic beverage. The following establishments accept the RADD card and provide you with a non-alcoholic beverage on the house (offers subject to change without notice):

  • 21 and Seven Bar and Grill
  • Bistro 33 Davis
  • Café Bernardo
  • Circle K (free 16 oz. coffee or other hot beverage)
  • The Davis Graduate
  • Froggy’s Grill
  • G-Street Pub
  • Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant
  • Pasta?
  • Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
  • Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery
  • Uncle Vito's Pizza
  • Woodstock’s Pizza

Pick up your RADD card at the Health Education & Promotion office at the Cowell Annex (located behind the Cowell Student Health Center, open Monday through Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm).

If you are interested in becoming a participating establishment please contact Cindy Valencia at (530) 752-9808 to find out more information.

Designated Driver

If you choose to have a Designated Driver, treat them well. They’re helping keep you and the people on the road safe!

  • Pick up a RADD Card and give it to them as a surprise. It’s like treating them to a free non-alcoholic at every bar without you having to pay for it!
  • Take turns being the Designated Driver. If one person always gets asked, they may say no after a while. Taking turns is only fair.
  • Try to include them in the fun without encouraging them to drink. You don’t want them to feel excluded, and you really don’t want them to start drinking.

Have a Back Up Plan

You know what they say about the best-laid plans, if yours goes up in flames - don’t panic!

  • Bring extra money with you, even if you think you can’t afford it. Emergency cash could save your life if you need to call a cab in a flash.
    • Know the numbers of cab companies in your area. Don’t expect to have a phone book ready at every place you go. Put them in your cell phone ahead of time.
    • Don’t let your friends ride with a designated driver who has started drinking. They may think they are sober enough, or be too intoxicated to care, but you know better. Ask them to pool their money together with you to call a cab, call one for them, or get a friend to pick them up instead.
  • If you don’t have a designated driver and you have a car in the parking lot with no one to drive it, leaving the car overnight may be your best option. There are several lots in Davis that allow overnight parking, including the South F St. Lot, North F St. Lot, South G St. Lot, and the North G St. If you remove your car by 10:00am the next day there is no fee! Find more information on parking in Davis available here.
  • If you parked overnight someplace other than these lots, leaving your car may incur a $35.00 fine. $35.00 is a small price to pay for getting home safe.
  • If your DD starts drinking, don’t be afraid to call everyone and anyone. Your friends may not like being called at 2:00 a.m. for a ride, but they would prefer that over your imprisonment, injury or death.
  • Have a Plan B just in case by having someone you can call, like a roommate or a friend who is willing to come get you in case of an emergency. Let this person know you are not relying on them for a ride, you just want to have someone who can come get you if something goes wrong.

Transportation

If you can’t find a designated driver, there are many other resources that you can take advantage of as well:

  • The Tipsy Taxi: For just $2.00 you can go anywhere in Davis with your friends. And you don’t even need to be tipsy to ride. The Taxi runs Friday-Saturday from 10:00pm-2:00am.They even have a volume discount of five rides for $5.00.
  • Local Cab Companies: There are numerous taxi or cab companies in Davis, some offering student rates or discounts.

All it takes is a few minutes of planning to avoid a DUI!

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