“We DID it!” screamed the Harvard Law School commencement speaker. In the classic comedy Legally Blonde, the lovable Elle Woods delivers a moving speech to classmates about passion and personal conviction spurred on by agonizing heartbreak. While Elle may be driven and ditsy, she’s also intelligent and wise under that graduation cap. Her father isn’t so smart, sloshing a full martini glass in her honor – during the ceremony. Hopefully, he wasn’t driving.
Like many of life's biggest moments, graduation can be a bittersweet time – a mix of accomplishment and nostalgia. But like Elle’s dad, the season of pomp can bring on many poor decisions about drinking. It’s tempting to party whether you’re the honored grad or the guest, but it’s not the time to test your legal limits as a driver.
Even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2023, there were 2,117 people killed nationwide in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .01 to .07%. In Iowa, you’re over the legal limit to drive if your blood alcohol content is .08 or higher. With planning, you can keep yourself and others safe:
- Designate a driver: If you wait until after you start drinking, you may make a poor decision. Figure out your driving situation before consuming.
- Schedule ridesharing services: Services like Uber, Lyft, and taxis remove your drunk driving risk.
- Plan to stay overnight: If you’re at a house or a hotel where the graduation party is located, stay overnight.
More than two decades after Legally Blondehit theatres, Elle Woods is still proving there is more to her than fashion and beauty. But it won the case.
In 2025, in Iowa, 80 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of five since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 356 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, visit the daily fatality report.