Thinking Through a Choice

Jim’s friend Doug offers him a ride home from a party. During the party, Doug drank a couple of beers. Should Jim accept a ride with Doug? What is the best decision Jim can make in this situation? Work through Jim’s decision-making process by clicking on steps in the table below. See if you can think of alternatives that Jim didn’t consider.

State the Situation	Jim needs to get home from the party. He has a few minutes to make a decision before Doug drives away.
List the Options	Jim could accept Doug’s offer. Jim could call his parents for a ride. He could ride with someone else. He could walk home. He could take a bus, subway, or taxi. He could offer to drive since Doug has been drinking.
Weigh the Possible Outcomes	Doug could have an accident or be arrested for driving under the influence. This would be safer for Jim, but he would feel stupid calling his parents to come get him. This would also be safer for Jim, but it wouldn’t keep Doug off the road. This might or might not be safe or practical depending on how far Jim has to go and if there’s a way to get there on foot. It also does nothing to keep Doug off the road. These options are safer for Jim, but they cost money, and they don’t keep Doug off the road. If Jim has not been drinking and he has a driver’s license, he could drive Doug’s car. This would be safer for Jim, Doug, and anyone else riding with Doug.
Consider Values	Jim values safety. He wants to be safe himself, to keep Doug safe, and to prevent Doug from harming anyone else.
Make a Decision and Act	Jim takes the car keys and drives Doug home. Jim can walk home from Doug’s house, which isn’t far from Jim’s house.
Evaluate the Decision	Everyone got home safely, so Jim feels good about his decision. Jim and Doug agree that in the future they will designate a driver when they go to a party where alcohol is served.

Let's practice using the decision-making steps.