The holiday season is upon us, which means more time with friends and family, and for many who celebrate – more alcohol. According to an infographic compiled by SCRAM Systems, 50% of family holiday gatherings involve alcohol. While drinking can be enjoyed in moderation, binge drinking and/or DUIs can derail even the most festive celebrations.
When Does the Risk for Holiday DUIs Begin?
“Blackout Wednesday” and Thanksgiving kick off the holiday festivities in a dangerous way. In some parts of the United States, the night before Thanksgiving is a bigger drinking holiday than New Year’s Eve or St. Patrick’s Day. The boozy event is especially prevalent in larger urban areas and college towns, and Blackout Wednesday is one of the top drunk-driving nights of the year in some places.
On top of that, 43.5 million Americans traveled for Thanksgiving in 2016. Combining congested roadways with possible drunk drivers is a recipe for disaster, which likely contributes to the sharp (2-3x) increase in alcohol-related crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Why Do People Drink During the Holidays?
For many families, themed alcoholic beverages add a festive flair to holiday parties or other gatherings. Some people, however, drink for darker reasons, like financial and emotional stress. Alcoholics, in fact, have a difficult time staying sober during the holidays; 92% of these high-risk DUI offenders credited 24/7 alcohol monitoring for their sustained sobriety during the holiday season.
Even people without alcoholism are more likely to drive drunk during the holidays. AAA cites admissions from 1 in 8 licensed drivers who have “driven when they thought they were close to or over 0.08 BAC” in the past year. During the holidays 40% of highway deaths are related to alcohol, as opposed to 28% the rest of the year.
This coming season, an estimated 1,200 people will be killed in crashes and 25,000 others will be injured.
Remember to drive carefully and NEVER operate a motor vehicle after drinking.
What If I Am Harmed by a Drunk Driver?
The holidays might be a scary time to drive, but for most people, being on the road is a reality of the season. If you are injured by a drunk driver or lose a loved one to an alcohol-related accident, our attorneys at The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC can help.
While filing a lawsuit will never change what happened, it can help you recover from your losses on a financial level.
Take the first step today and call us at (512) 326-3200. Don’t forget to request a free consultation.
