It’s probably no surprise that many people drink more during the holidays than at other times of the year. Holiday parties, family gatherings and work events give people plenty of chances to drink more than they should. Unfortunately, this increase in alcohol consumption leads to more drunk driving accidents.
According to data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the percentage of highway fatalities increases during the holiday season. Their data shows that the percentage of alcohol-related highway deaths during the rest of the year is 28 percent. Over the holiday season, that number jumps to 40 percent.
Breaking down the data further reveals that the number of drunk driving deaths increases with each holiday:
- Thanksgiving—35 percent of highway fatalities
- Christmas—41 percent of highway fatalities
- New Year’s Eve—58 percent of highway fatalities
These statistics tell only part of the story. In 2016, more people than ever traveled for the holidays. AAA reports that 103 million drivers traveled between December 23 and January 3 last year. This is a record number of U.S. holiday travelers. And with more people on the roads, the likelihood of accidents increases.
Staying safe and protecting your rights
We hope you and your family stay safe this holiday season. Choosing a sober driver, taking taxis or public transportation, or refraining from alcohol can ensure that you don’t cause a drunk driving accident. If another driver causes an accident, you want to make sure all of your rights are protected. You can speak with a lawyer at no cost to discuss injuries caused by a drunk driver.
