November 22, 2016

Drunk driving incidents claim the lives of up to 25,000 Americans per year, according to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Administration. That should be reason enough to do all you can to prevent yourself and your friends and loved ones from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Even if no one is hurt, getting convicted of even one DUI offense can cost you your license, your insurance, and thousands of dollars in legal fees, fines and other expenses. In some industries, a single DUI offense can cost you your career, as well.

Fortunately, thanks to mobile phone and computer technology, we now have a number of useful and innovative tools to help you have a good time, while responsibly managing your alcohol intake. Here are some effective apps and other tools you can install on your smartphone or tablet, to help you avoid hurting yourself or anyone else by driving while under the influence.

Alcohol Intake Mobile Apps 

Alcudroid Alcohol Tracker: This program has a similar function to Intellidrink, but is designed to work on the Android platform.  Named a Top Alcoholism App of 2015 by HealthLine.com, the Alcudroid lets you chart your drinking habits by the day, week or month. It also supports U.S., imperial and metric units and of course calculates an estimate of your blood alcohol content.

Additionally, the Alcudroid helps you track what you spend on alcohol over time as well. Available for Android here.

BACtrack: BACtrack makes a combination breathalyzer and smartphone app system that will give you a reasonably accurate BAC level you can read right off your cell phone. The BACtrack breathalyzer device connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and uses an Xtend® fuel cell sensor that has a proven track record of accuracy and consistency. 

The BACtrack app can also help you project when your BAC can be expected to reach zero (if you stop drinking now). 

The BACtrack Mobile Pro breathalyzer is compatible for iOS and Android devices, and sells for $99.99 from the manufacturer’s website.

Ride Programs and Transportation Services

DrinkingAndDriving.Org maintains the National Directory of Designated Driver Services, a state-by-state list of businesses or groups that will make sure you get home safely for free or at low cost.

Hail a cab. Or you can use a mobile-phone app such as Cabzilla or Curb.

Consider a ride-sharing service. Availability varies, depending on the market, but popular options include:

• Lyft
• Uber
• FREE NOW

Contact the Tow to Go Program. Tow to Go operates on most major holidays and offers a free ride to impaired drivers and their vehicles who do not have a safe alternative. Call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.

We want you to have a good time. But more than that, we want you to get home safe to your family, along with everyone else on the road with you. We encourage you to download one or more of these apps to your phones, and to share this information with your friends and family. 

This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. Meemic Insurance Company does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.