chapter 7 — personal strategies Impairment crash fact You in the driver’s seat Facts about alcohol 103 Here are some ways that alcohol can interfere with seeing,  thinking and doing.  Chapter 9, your licence , talks about some of the fines and  charges for impaired driving. You’re going home from a party with your friend. It’s pretty  late and you’re anxious to get to bed. It’s been a long day.  Your friend runs a yellow light, just catching the beginning  of a red. You notice he is staring straight ahead, his eyes  not moving. The car starts to weave and then lurches to  one side as he brakes hard. “Hey, what are you doing?”  you ask. “It’s okay, I thought I was at the intersection…a  little early, huh?” he laughs.  What should you do?  Throughout B.C. an  average of 78 people are  killed each year in crashes  involving impaired driving.  Source: Police Traffic  Accident System, 2010  to 2014. • Think of your own safety and the safety of others. This  can help you calm yourself.  • Be patient and extra courteous. Remember that all  drivers make mistakes. Take a couple of moments to  calm yourself down and leave your problems behind  before you start to drive. If you can’t focus, don’t get  behind the wheel.  • Be honest with yourself. Admitting to yourself exactly  how you feel can often help to calm you down.  • Open the windows to let in some fresh air and take a  few deep breaths.  • Listen to the radio or a relaxing CD.  • Loosen your grip on the steering wheel. This will help  to ease your arm and neck muscles and reduce the  chance of you getting a headache.