It is not rocket-science to understand the dangers associated with drinking and driving. Too many people still drive drunk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired drivers caused 9,967 fatal crashes in 2014. We recently spoke with Criminal Lawyer Akash Dhillon of A. Dhillon Law Professional Corporation in Brampton, Ontario who specializes in defending impaired driving cases, to get his advice on why you should never get behind the wheel after being impaired by alcohol or drugs. 

As someone who sees the life changing effects of DUI charges on a daily basis, consider these 9 reasons why you should not drink and drive:

Recent car accident with two black cars.

Prison is a real possibility

Many people find it difficult to imagine being locked up in a prison cell. If you’re caught driving while intoxicated, you could end up in jail. If you are caught drinking and driving, jail time may be more than just a few hours. If you are responsible for a fatality, you may spend years in jail.

You’ll pay way more in car insurance

Do not be surprised when your insurance rates increase if you are convicted of DUI. Insurance premiums are partly based on your driving risk. Drivers who are at higher risk of an accident will pay higher premiums. Your insurance company may classify you as a high-risk driver if you’re convicted of driving under the influence.

You may lose your job

A conviction for drinking and driving can result in the termination of employment or revocation a professional license. It is more likely to happen if your job is one that is regarded as prestigious or high-ranking, or if it is with a municipality or state government. If they are caught driving drunk, doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, public figures, and police officers may lose their license or job.

You could be charged large fines and fees

A DUI can be expensive. You will not only have to pay the cost of your ticket but also court fees, fines and civil penalties (if the damage or injury you caused to someone else was serious).

You are more likely to be in an accident if you drink and drive

The biggest reason not to drink and drive, is that it increases your chances of getting into an accident and causing harm to you or another person. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 27 people in America die every day as a result drunk driving accidents.

Having a criminal record is not something you want

This information could be seen by employers or others who need to run a criminal background investigation if you are found guilty of driving while intoxicated. It can be expensive to fight criminal charges and you may have limited opportunities in the future if convicted.

It is possible to cause serious property damage

You may cause property damage worth thousands of dollars, even if you don’t injure yourself or another person. It is simply not worth it to total your car, hit a stationary object or cause damage to someone else’s property.

You could kill people, including children

MADD reports that every year, hundreds of children are killed by drunk drivers. In one year, 1,149 children aged 14 or younger were killed in motor vehicle accidents. One-seventh of those fatal accidents, or 200 deaths, involved an impaired driver. Another 29 children, either on foot or in a bicycle, were also struck by drivers with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 and higher.

You are a bad example to others, including your family

You and other road users are put at risk when you drink and drive. It also tells your family that you believe drinking and driving to be acceptable. You are telling your loved ones that you don’t care about safety by not holding yourself to it. You should not drink and drive if you value the lives of family members, friends and your children.

As a DUI lawyer in Brampton, the city with Canada’s highest insurance premiums, I see the effects of impaired driving on a daily basis. There are so many simple alternatives to getting behind the wheel impaired that there’s never a reason to actually do it. Remember, drinking and driving can not only affect you, but your family, your loved ones and so many other who have fallen victim to impaired driving.