As the holiday spirit becomes more apparent, spirits of other kinds often take on importance for some people. But too often, holiday celebrators overindulge in alcoholic spirits.

Drunk driving is a subject that is in the news often, particularly at Christmas and New Year’s, but a subject of such seriousness can never be stressed enough.

Last year, 2,213 people nationwide died as a result of traffic accidents linked to alcohol between Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day. That’s 2,213 lives snuffed out by nothing more than carelessness.

If you’re planning to celebrate the holidays with alcohol, plan on having a sober driver to handle the transportation. Nothing could be so simple, or important, as careful planning.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is sponsoring a “Tie One on for Safety” program this season, in which drivers are asked to provide visual reminders of the importance of sober driving by tying a red ribbon to the outside of their cars. If the countless media messages are not effective reminders, hopefully this MADD program will be.

Have a happy and safe holiday season. And plan ahead.