Christmas Drunk Driving. The holiday season, for many, is a special time of year that involves giving. When it comes to giving, perhaps one of the greatest things that you can do involving this is to drive sober if you’ll be traveling anywhere.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will again be partnering with multiple cities across the United States to spread their “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different – Drive High Get a DUI” messages. Running from December 18 through January 1, the overall goal is to educate citizens regarding both the dangers and consequences of driving both drunk and high, as well as how law enforcement officials will be increasing patrols in order to ensure that any and all impaired drivers are taken off of the roads.
NHTSA Drunk Driving Statistics
Drunk driving is a daily issue on all of our nation’s roadways; however, it’s an issue that’s much more common during the holiday season. According to statistics from the NHTSA, during the 2018 New Year and Christmas periods, there were a total of 285 fatalities related to drunk driving – all of which were 100% able to be prevented. Nationwide that same year, there were a total of 10,511 people killed in drunk driving-related crashes, which accounted for close to one-third of all crash fatalities that occurred that year.
Similar to drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is also illegal in every state across the nation. In fact, back in 2017, approximately 45% of all drivers who were killed in fatal crashes who were tested for drugs ended up testing positive. Regardless of whether the drug itself is obtained legally or illegally, driving while impaired on drugs is a situation that can be extremely deadly for not just drivers, but also for passengers and other individuals on the roads as well.
Most Dangerous Days to Drive
Christmas Drunk Driving. In the event that you have a holiday gathering currently noted on your calendar, always take the time to make smart decisions and plan exactly how you’ll be able to get back home safely once the gathering comes to a conclusion. If it’s determined that you’re the designated driver, you will need to make a commitment to staying completely sober so that both you and your loved ones will be safe. Furthermore, if you end up spotting an impaired driver while on the road yourself, be sure to contact your local law enforcement agency immediately, as doing this can result in you saving the life of the driver, as well as many others. Additionally, if you have a friend who is impaired and who may also be about to drive, get the keys away from them and assist them in making the necessary arrangements to get back home safely.