Advance Planning Can Head Off Holiday Tragedy

All across the Southland, steamy pots of cinnamon-scented mulled wine, delectable hors d’oeuvres, artfully hung mistletoe and glittering disco balls are beckoning.

It could be that the funereal mood in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Middle East wars has finally dissipated. Or perhaps the rebounding economy is giving rise to more occasions for bubbly toasts and merry-making.

This much is certain: Our celebratory spirit is back in full swing. With so many invites luring everybody out and about this year, cross-town party-hopping has become de rigueur. And the club scene, which in the past usually mellowed out toward the end of the year, continues to roar unabated, according to

LALate.com, a Web site on local nightlife.

But before you raise another glass in good cheer, consider these sobering statistics. From 2001 to 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the state saw a 10% jump in the number of drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs involved in fatal crashes, from 1,014 to 1,116, according to the California Highway Patrol. For the first 10 months of this year in Los Angeles, there were 24 DUI-related fatal collisions, about the same pace as last year, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

To crack down on drunk driving, law enforcement officers will be out in full force on streets and freeways this week and next, particularly on New Year’s Eve. In counties with large rural areas, such as Riverside and Imperial, a new state initiative also has equipped law enforcement agencies with a computerized device that allows officers to quickly test suspects for alcohol during a traffic stop, without having to go back to the station, according to the state attorney general’s office.

But the best way to stay safe, experts say, is to take responsibility for your actions.

“We want everyone to have happy holidays with their friends and families,” said Capt. Greg Meyer of the LAPD Valley Traffic Division. “It’ll be a whole lot happier if people slow down and respect each other on the road.”

Whether or not you imbibe, be wary of tipsy pedestrians and other motorists. If you see a car weaving, driving after dark without headlights on, swerving for no apparent reason or going dangerously fast or slow -- all signs that a driver is under the influence -- keep a safe distance away and dial 911 to alert authorities.

“A drunk driver is an emergency,” CHP Officer Ron Burch said.

Think ahead about your transportation needs before you hit the cocktail circuit.

“We don’t accidentally drink and we don’t accidentally drive. The first thing you want to do is to plan how to get home safely,” said Tina Pasco, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

For group outings, appoint someone responsible to be the designated driver.

If you plan to drive, know your limits on alcohol intake. A conservative rule of thumb is to drink no more than a single serving -- that is, a bottle of beer, a glass of wine or an ounce of liquor -- every couple of hours.

“People should be aware that as little as two drinks will put you over the limit, and it takes at least two hours for each drink to metabolize out of your body,” said Nick Yaya, executive director of the Designated Drivers Assn.’s Los Angeles chapter. “If you have three beers, that’s six hours. You can wake up the next morning and still be drunk.”

Memo to the petite and fashionably thin: The less you weigh, the less booze it takes to get plastered.

Other conditions affect everyone, including those of jolly proportions. An empty stomach accelerates alcohol absorption, as do carbonated concoctions like gin and tonic. To decrease the effects of alcohol, try to eat plenty of protein-rich food before and during drinking, Pasco said.

In case your Plan A for getting home falls through, have a backup. Tuck a list of emergency transportation phone numbers into your little evening bag or jacket pocket.

Or, to heck with driving! Take public transit. Call a taxi. Arrange for a town car or limousine service to shuttle you there and back in grand style.

“There are so many alternatives to drinking and driving,” said Marie Montgomery, a spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California. “There’s really no excuse.”

Finally, officials say, if gentle reminders don’t persuade you to drive responsibly, consider the potentially heartbreaking consequences of not thinking ahead.

One night last December, Van Nuys resident David Santos took to the road while inebriated and made a left turn into the path of an oncoming car, police said. The crash killed his passenger and cousin, Freddie Gonzales. Santos, whose blood-alcohol level was 0.13%, pleaded guilty to felony manslaughter and is serving a three-year sentence.

“He decided to drink and drive, and killed a family member,” LAPD Det. Bill Bustos said. “It’s a double tragedy.”

Clip the following, and may your holidays be joyful and safe.

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* The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is offering free bus and train rides on Christmas and New Year’s eves. Its rail network will also remain open through the wee hours before the Rose Parade to facilitate travel to Pasadena. Call (800) COMMUTE or consult the Metro Trip Planner at www.mta.net for schedule and route information.

* The Auto Club is offering tow-truck service, free for the first seven miles, on New Year’s Eve from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for members and nonmembers. Call (800) 400-4AAA and ask for “tipsy tow.” Only drivers and their cars will be transported; passengers will be on their own.

* Designated Drivers Assn. volunteers can bring you home, free for the first 15 miles, from select Southern California locations from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, as well as every Friday and Saturday night. The Los Angeles chapter provides pickups in the Hollywood area only: (888) 311-SAFE. In San Diego, call (866) 373-SAFE for lifts from Pacific Beach and the Gaslamp Quarter. Rides in Orange County are offered in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach: (866) 949-SAFE. The groups are seeking volunteers.

* For taxicabs, private town cars or limousine services, consult the Yellow Pages. Fill in the numbers here: _________________ _____________________________

If you have a question, gripe or story idea about driving in Southern California, write to Behind the Wheel, c/o Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or send an e-mail to behindthewheel@latimes.com.