The holidays are a wonderful, highly-anticipated time of year, but drunk driving can hinder the merriment of the season. Sadly, thousands of people are injured each holiday season and hundreds more lose their lives due to drunk drivers.
HOW COMMON ARE HOLIDAY DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS?
Festive gatherings and parties are a staple for many people celebrating the holiday season. Oftentimes, these get-togethers involve alcoholic beverages and, unfortunately, this typically results in more impaired drivers on the road.
Holiday accident statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reveal that:
- Over the past five years, an average of 300 people died nationally in drunk driving accidents between Christmas and New Year
- In 2016, 781 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents in the month of December alone
- From 2012-2016, 28% of traffic-related fatalities involved drunk drivers
HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE THIS HOLIDAY?
While it’s true there may be fewer large holiday gatherings this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can bet that there will still be dangerous motorists on the road this month. Knowing this information, it’s important for all drivers to create strategies in order to avoid potentially life-threatening drunk driving accidents this holiday season.
- Plan Ahead. If you’re attending a holiday gathering, plan out how you will be getting home safely without drinking and driving.
- Set an Example for Friends. Encourage your friends and family to drive sober or have an alternative plan to get home.
- Look Out for Drunk Drivers. Remember the signs of drunk driving and call local law enforcement if you believe there is a drunk driver on the road.
- Use Apps to Track Drinks. While driving completely sober is always better, you may be able to use certain smartphone apps to track your drinks and help calculate your blood alcohol content (BAC) and determine whether you are legally allowed to drive.
With all that said, please stay safe this holiday season by driving with vigilance, driving sober, and avoiding large indoor gatherings that may put you at an increased risk of spreading COVID-19.
If you or a loved one is, in fact, injured by a drunk or reckless driver this holiday season, contact Huffman & Huffman at (757) 599-6050 to discuss your legal options further with our Newport News personal injury team.
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