DON’T LET A DRUNK DRIVER RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY

By Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, P.L.L.C.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it is especially important to be aware of the other travelers on the road. Find out how to spot and avoid a drunk driver and the facts and figures on impaired driving.

HOW TO SPOT A DRUNK DRIVER

Courtesy of MADD

  1. Quick acceleration or deceleration
  2. Tailgating
  3. Weaving or zig-zagging across the road
  4. Driving anywhere other than on a road designated for vehicles
  5. Almost striking an object, curb, or vehicle
  6. Stopping without cause or erratic braking
  7. Drifting in and out of traffic lanes
  8. Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions
  9. Slow response to traffic signals (e.g. sudden stop or delayed start)
  10. Straddling the center lane marker
  11. Driving with headlights off at night
  12. Swerving
  13. Driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit
  14. Turning abruptly or illegally
  15. Driving into opposing traffic on the wrong side of the road

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that the highest number of traffic accidents and fatalities occur on major holidays, including Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. The major reason for these increases is the amount of alcohol consumed during these periods leading to a sharp increase in the number of accidents and injuries caused by drunk drivers.

IMPAIRED DRIVING: GET THE FACTS

Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 48 minutes and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.

How big is the problem?

  • In 2010, 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States.
  • Of the 1,210 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2010, 17% involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
  • In 2010, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics

For more information and to learn who’s at risk, visit the CDC website for their impaired driving fact sheet.

At Huffman & Huffman, we have handled many cases for people who were injured by a drunk driver. If you know anyone who has been injured in an auto accident by a drunk driver, please give us a call today at (757) 599-6050.

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