Auto · Originally published January 14, 2015 · Updated November 2026
Nobody plans to drive impaired. It usually happens because there was no plan at all, and by the end of the night, judgment isn't at its best. Whether you are at a Springfield bar, a Joplin cookout or a weekend on Table Rock Lake, a little planning keeps you, your passengers and everyone else on the road safer.
The simplest alternative to driving drunk is deciding ahead of time that you won't. Before you leave home:
Pick a designated driver. A designated driver works best when it is settled before anyone starts drinking, and when the designated driver truly doesn't drink. Take turns within your group so it doesn't fall on the same person every time. If you are hosting, offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks for your drivers.
Use a ride service or taxi. Rideshare apps and local cab services operate in Springfield, Joplin and Branson. Availability can be thinner late at night or in rural areas, so check before you go out, especially if you are headed somewhere outside town. A ride fare is a small cost compared with what a DWI can bring.
Call someone. A friend or family member would much rather get a late-night call than hear about an accident. Keep a short list of people you can call, and offer to do the same for them.
Sometimes the best ride home is no ride at all:
Remember that you can still be impaired the next morning. Give yourself enough time before getting behind the wheel.
If someone you're with has had too much:
It can feel awkward, but it is a conversation worth having.
In Missouri, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is a DWI. A DWI can lead to suspension or revocation of your license, a requirement to file an SR-22, completing SATOP, an ignition interlock and higher insurance rates for years. Most importantly, impaired driving puts lives at risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has more on the dangers of impaired driving.
If you are already dealing with a DWI, our article on SR-22 after a DWI in Missouri explains the insurance side, and our SR-22 insurance page covers the filing.
Questions about your auto insurance or what a violation means for your coverage? Call us at 417.865.4800.
It can still lead to legal trouble, especially if you are in the driver's seat with the keys. A ride home or a place to stay is the safer choice.
Yes. Rates usually rise, and the state may require an SR-22 before you can reinstate your license.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back. Most auto quotes are finished on one call, and you can buy before you hang up.