Using Ride Services to Your Holiday Party Can Save You Thousands
With the widespread availability of ride services, such as Lyft and Uber,
there is no reason to drive to your holiday party, especially if you drink.
Nowadays, with lower limits on blood alcohol levels than in the past, driving
while being above the threshold doesn't take much. The cost of driving under
the influence can be well over $10,000, and it can also cost you your career.
Worse yet, if you seriously injure or kill someone, you can spend time in jail.
It's just not worth it-the cost of a ride or taxi service is a drop in the
bucket compared to what an alcohol-related conviction can cost you.
Ride sharing services are easy to use if you have a smartphone. All you need
to do is download the apps for Lyft or Uber or an app that dispatches to taxi
companies. You need to program your credit card information, which makes the
system efficient, as no money changes hands and your credit card is billed. You
then program in your home or location address and your destination address, and
with a push of a button, the first nearby driver to respond will pick you up.
The apps typically will tell you about how many minutes it will take for the
driver to arrive, and you should get a text message when your driver is
approaching. Most systems are transparent; they provide you with your route map
and total cost. It also will be difficult for a driver to manipulate the system
to charge more. You are also prompted to rate your driver; drivers with low
ratings will, in most cases, lose their contract.
There are additional benefits: there is no need to park your car, pay for
parking, or park at a distance; these services take you to the front door. In
some cases, you can choose to upgrade to a black car or an SUV, such as with
Uber; these services typically cost more, but if you want to go in style or
have a number of people in your party and need a bigger vehicle, this may be an
option. In some locations, these apps offer a car pool system where you share
the ride with another party. These are typically limited to two people per
party and two parties per car; they use the service to match parties who are
picked up nearby and are going to nearby destinations. Those who choose this
car pool option pay a fraction of what the actual ride cost due to sharing the
vehicle.
With the availability of these services, it is unwise to even think of
drinking and driving. At some point, drinking and driving will catch up with
you. You already purchased your smartphone; you can now use it to your
advantage to safely enjoy yourself, stay out of serious trouble, and easily get
around.
The two most common days for home fires in the United States are Christmas
and Christmas Eve. Fire officials encourage everyone to make safety a top
priority during the entire holiday season.
One of the primary causes of holiday house fires is cooking. Heating comes
in second place. The increased use of candles on Christmas and New Year's Eve,
increase the risk of fire even further.
Some additional helpful tips to stay safe this holiday season:
- Turn all lights off. When
using any decorative lights in or around the house or tree, be sure they
are turned off when no one is in the room. If you are using older strings
of lights, consider switching to newer LED lights. LED lights are not only
more energy efficient they also don't get as hot as older lights can.
- Install sufficient
smoke alarms and make sure they are working. Every
level of the home should have a working smoke detector. Ideally there
should be one in each common room and bedroom. At a minimum, be sure they
are placed strategically so occupants can hear them regardless of where
they may be in the house. Alarms older than 10 years should be replaced.
- Water fresh trees
every day. A fresh tree should be watered
daily to ensure it does not dry out and become a fire hazard. Both
artificial and fresh trees should be kept away from candles, heaters and
fireplaces.
- Use carbon monoxide
detectors. Carbon monoxide is invisible and
odorless, so it is considered a silent killer. Carbon monoxide detectors
seven years of age should be replaced.
- Make a fire escape
plan. The fire escape plan should include
two separate exit options. Designate an area outside of the home, a safe
distance away, where occupants should meet. In case of fire, remember to
stay outside and call 911 immediately from a neighbor's phone or a cell
phone. Do not go back into the house for any reason.
- Do not leave candles
unattended. Before leaving a room or going
to sleep, make sure all candles have been blown out. Maintain a one-foot
clear area around lit candles, and make sure they are placed on flat and
steady surfaces.
- Use extension cords
with care. Do not overload extension cords
or power strips. Avoid putting cords under rugs to lower the risk of fire.
- Use space heaters
cautiously. Never leave a space heater
running when the room is not occupied. Heaters should be at least three
feet from any item or wall. Do not use old space heaters that are not UL
approved.
- Do not leave burners
unattended. Watch all cooking food closely.
When baking, set a timer and keep it within reach. If pan does catch on
fire, put a lid on it to smother the fire. Turn the heat off immediately.
- Be responsible when
drinking. Alcohol plays a part in many
fatal fires, so watch out for guests or hosts around open flames when
drinking is a part of the celebration. Alcohol and fire don't mix.
- Smoke outdoors. Make
sure all guests know to smoke outdoors, and provide ash trays so they do
not toss cigarette butts in areas where they could cause fires.
- Keep lighters and
matches safe. If there will be children
present, make sure lighters and matches are kept out of their reach.
