Be honest: How often do you really have a designated driver?

Jessica Ashley, Senior Editor

There's a holiday party tonight with my friends and it occurred to me as I made my prep check-list - cute sequin top, fun little hostess gift, invitation details, babysitter- that what was most pressing was making sure I scheduled a cab to drop me off and pick me up from the festivities.

It seems like so much more of a hassle to stand in the slushy snow in my new suede boots to wait for a ride than it would be to hop in my own car and head downtown, a trip that takes only a few minutes when I take it on my own. And I can't say I am amped about handing over $50 or more in taxi fares instead of popping a few dollars' worth of quarters in a meter. But really, those snags in the schedule are small.

I know the best decision is paying a cabbie to be my designated driver. Of course. The bonus is that I can go and have a glass of wine and not stress about whether there will be enough food there (my tolerance is low, friends, and a few stuffed mushrooms can leave me feeling buzzy from one little drink) or feeling suddenly exhausted or any other factors that can easily lead to a person driving when they shouldn't.

Statistics make the taxi fare seem like a bargain. In the U.S. in 2007, there were 12,988 traffic deaths attributed to alcohol impairment. Of course, weather and road conditions, fatigue, medications, and other factors only increase the risk and danger of driving under the influence. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation, it is estimated that 30% of us will be involved in an alcohol-related car accident at some point in our lives.

It's startling. And as much as I don't want to be a part of that third of Americans, I definitely do not want to be the cause of one of those crashes.

I'll step down now from my soapbox to double check that the cab app on my phone is working properly.

What about you? How do you handle holiday drinking and driving? Do you really designate a driver? Call a cab? Arrange a ride? Or will you wing it this year?