Don't Drink and Drive this Holiday Season

The holidays are here again, which might mean a road trip for you and your family may be in your plans. Whatever your reason for road travel, it’s important to remember to keep your eyes open and stay alert while driving for the next several weeks, as the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is one of the most deadly and likewise one of the most heavily-patrolled times of the entire calendar.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is the next major holiday coming up, and statistics have overwhelmingly shown that Thanksgiving weekend is the most widely-travelled weekend of the year. This trend also tends to fall on the heels of what is known as “Black Wednesday,” or the busiest night of the year for bars. There are a number of reasons for this, including visiting family, social gatherings, stress relief, and the fact that very few people are required to work the following day

Christmas to New Year’s Day

The week-long period between Christmas and New Year’s Day is also extremely dangerous for motorists. A number of holiday parties occur during this time, which leads to a lot of intoxicated drivers on the roads. During this week alone, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 40% of all traffic-related fatalities involved drunk drivers, a sharp spike above the 12% rate for the other three weeks of the month.

The NHTSA went even more specific. Between the years of 2001 and 2005, there were an average of 36 fatalities per day involving a drunk driver. That number jumped to 45 per day during the three-day Christmas period and then again to a whopping 54 per day over the New Year’s holiday.

Police Step Up Their Efforts

Law enforcement are well aware of the data regarding the most dangerous days of the year and when the most intoxicated drivers may be on the roads. You can expect to see increased patrols around these times, particularly over the upcoming holidays.

The best way to avoid a DUI arrest or an accident is to simply plan ahead and not drive if you have been drinking or plan on doing so. Either travel with a designated driver or get a ride from a taxi or ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft. The price you’ll pay for this service pales in comparison to the financial consequences of a DUI arrest, or worse, a car accident.

If you are arrested for a DUI this holiday, the skilled Los Angeles DUI attorneys at Hutton & Wilson may be able to help you. Our team has handled more than 10,000 DUI cases, giving us an extensive range of experience that we can put to work for you. We are Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists and have received recognition from Super Lawyers, demonstrating our formidable knowledge and excellent client service.