These next few weeks are what we like to call "the Holiday Season." During this season, we do our shopping, participate in winter activities, and hang out with family and friends. One of the most popular idea for hanging out is parties. New Year's Day and Christmas calls for parties of celebration and fun times.

If we're being honest, even if some of us aren't of legal age to drink, there will be alcohol present at these parties. As we all know, drinking at parties usually leads to a few, or a lot of, people getting drunk or buzzed. Most of the time, alcohol pushes away that little voice that is called our conscience and we do stupid things, some of these minor and some major. Since I can't tell a good portion of the population to not drink, I'll try another route. Please, even if you think you are fine, do not drink and drive. 31% of all fatal car accidents during the year are drunk driving related and the number increases to about 54% during the holiday season. These accidents can completely change someone's life whether that be by serious injuries or death. Survivors of these crashes often have severe brain damage and they no longer can be independent and have to rely on family members for help. However, some are not as "lucky" and end up getting killed. A family loses a father, brother, sister, mother, child, wife or husband. Friends lose someone that they were just hanging out with hours before. There is forever the pain of losing someone important.

So this season, be smart about your choices. Before going to parties, choose a designated driver, know your limits, avoid drinking alcoholic drinks, or try to avoid driving on the nights of big holidays.

Don't become another statistic, be safe and drive sober.