Use these five tips to steer clear of a drunk driving arrest this Thanksgiving.

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season fast approaching, it's no surprise that there is often an uptick in the amount of drunk driving arrests this time of year. While it is perfectly fine to have a few drinks with friends and family while filling up on turkey and stuffing, it's not okay to drive drunk. Drunk driving puts you and other innocent drivers at risk, so we want to help you avoid a DUI this Thanksgiving. To avoid a DUI after this year's turkey dinner, keep these five tips in mind: 

1. Be aware of DUI checkpoints.

Because so many people are having a few beers or a couple glasses of wine during holiday dinner, there is often an increase in drunk driving arrests during Thanksgiving. As a result, police officers frequently set up DUI checkpoints in busy areas as a way to catch anyone driving under the influence.

If you will be commuting on Thanksgiving and plan to have an alcoholic beverage or two, be aware of the DUI checkpoint locations in your area. Make sure you sober up before you drive home and avoid the DUI checkpoints, if possible. Keep in mind that the night before Thanksgiving is also a big night for drinking and driving, so there will likely be a lot of DUI checkpoints set up then, too.

2. Take a breathalyzer test.

Did you know that there are breathalyzer apps you can use to check your blood alcohol content (BAC) before hitting the road? Well, there are! These apps provide a device that plugs into your smartphone's headphone jack and allows you to administer your own breathalyzer test, just like a police officer would do. There are things that can skew breathalyzer results and cause them to give a falsely high reading, so you will want to keep that in mind when conducting the test.

While you will have to pay for this device, it can come in handy for giving you an idea of your blood alcohol content while you're out on the town for a night of drinking. If you aren't able to get your hands on one of the devices prior to Thanksgiving, it's important to know your limits. Watch how many drinks you have had and know when to cut yourself off.

3. Keep an eye on your medications.

Alcohol isn't the only substance that can land you a drunk driving arrest this Thanksgiving. If you find you need to pop a Xanax to deal with the stress and chaos that comes along with the holiday season, you might want to stay off the road. Medications like these can also have an impact on your driving and could lead to you spending the night in jail if you are pulled over with the medication in your system.

Know the effects your medication has on your driving skills and avoid getting behind the wheel if it could lead to a DUI. And if you're feeling stressed, try other methods of relieving stress before popping another Xanax to deal with your crazy relatives!

4. Pick a designated driver.

If you are doing out with a group of friends, it's a good idea to pick a designated driver before you leave the house. When you know you have a safe way to get home, that's one less thing to worry about at the end of the night. Instead, you'll be able to enjoy yourself instead of being stressed about transportation. Select a designated driver at the beginning of the night so there's no question about how you will be getting home. The next time you head out for a night of drinking, you can take the next designated driver shift!

5. Call a taxi or an Uber.

If you don't have a designated driver and you drove yourself to your Thanksgiving festivities, that doesn't mean your only option is to drive yourself home. You can call a taxi or another mode of public transpiration to get a safe ride home. Alternatively, you can get an Uber to get you back home safe and sound. Remember that you have options and there's no excuse to drive yourself home if you have been drinking.