It’s that time of year again – to gather with loved ones, give thanks for the many blessings in our lives, and enjoy holiday festivities. Too bad it’s also the time for drunk drivers — and then some.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching its annual holiday anti-drunk driving campaign. Texas Highway Patrol and local Dallas and Fort Worth police departments will step up DUI enforcement during NHTSA’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Crackdown.
Many drunk drivers will eat their holiday meal in jail. That’s a pretty lousy way to spend Christmas. But, it beats the alternative of hurting themselves or others in a DUI crash.
Let’s End a Bad Tradition
2016 is already set to have the worst rate of traffic deaths in five decades. 2015 currently holds that awful record with 38,300 roadway fatalities and 4.4 million serious injuries. Based on the first six months of the year, however, 2016 is on track to outdo those rates. And, we’ve just started the holiday season!
Traditionally, a huge spike in drunk driving generally occurs during the holiday season. New Year’s Eve is a notoriously dangerous evening on the roads. But, did you know Christmas Eve is also one of the worst for drunk driving crashes?
Then there are the parties throughout December. Holiday parties are one of the best parts of the holiday season. Unfortunately, drunk drivers can quickly spoil a good thing.
Would be great to pull a last minute play, put up a strong defense to not win the horrific title of deadliest year. We have the chance during the remaining weeks of the year.
The drunk driving spike is a holiday tradition we need to put an end to.
Tips for Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
I often offer tips for roadway safety in this blog. But they warrant repeating if even one drunk driving accident may be avoided.
Here are some small things you can do that will make a big difference:
- Avoid the roads from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. These are prime drunk driving hours.
- Keep in mind that a few glasses of wine with a holiday dinner can render a guest too drunk to drive.
- If attending a holiday party, set up your ride ahead of time or download the Uber app and taxi number beforehand.
- If hosting a party, have plenty of nonalcoholic beverages available for your guests.
If you are hit by a drunk driver, call my office. I am available to help you throughout the holiday season.