Is Drinking And Driving More Common Over Christmas?
New York drunk driving attorneys from Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, and other firms around the country have noticed a peculiar trend pertaining to the number of drinking and driving cases they handle. Certain holidays seem to have an uptick of cases involving the unlawful operation of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. While it may be obvious that the Fourth of July and Labor day are a part of these trends, many wonder where Christmas falls as the winter holidays fast approach.
Drunk Driving on Holidays – By the Numbers
Data collected by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that holidays have a high degree of potential to increase the likelihood of car accidents – especially related to drinking under the influence (DUI).
While Independence Day is one of the worst days for intoxicated driving across the entire year, New Year’s is the second worst, with 35.4% of accidents involving an intoxicated driver. Furthermore, Christmas saw 30.5% of accidents involving alcohol to some degree. Holidays overall saw around 131 deaths, on average, whereas the normal non-holiday saw around 25 deaths. Christmas itself averages around 105 deaths.
This means, of course, that the deadliest days to hit the road in December and January are Christmas and New Year’s respectively – making many second guess their decision to take their families out of town for the occasions. Of all holidays, the holiday with the largest positive percentage change in crash fatalities involving alcohol was Christmas at 162.5% – dwarfing the second-largest positive percentage swing of New Year’s Eve and Day at 65.5%.
Why Is There More Intoxicated Driving During the Holidays?
There are a number of reasons that intoxicated driving increases with the holidays. Firstly, American culture typically means that beer, wine, spirits, and other types of alcohol are almost always present at parties. Alcohol and other types of drugs are often overused and consumed by individuals who have no other means of getting home other than their vehicles. Public transportation is uncommon in many cases, and the costly prices of rideshare services mean that people opt for driving.
Drunk driving is illegal and should never be utilized as a means to get back home. Experts suggest appointing a sober individual to be the “designated driver,” arranging an Uber or Lyft for pick up and drop off, making use of public transportation if available, or phoning a friend or family member in order to leave a party. Failure to do so could mean the difference between life and death.
The Lawyers You Need When it Matters Most
As exciting as the holidays may be, the unfortunate reality of driving during the festivities can be stressful and dangerous. Experts warn those hitting the road during Christmas time and New Year’s to be extra cautious, as data shows that there is an increased likelihood of injury or death due to a car accident. For more information, call a New York drunk driving attorney from Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC at (315) 509-2873 where free consultations are a guarantee.