Holiday Drunk Driving Facts
November 25th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
It’s crucial to remember never to drink and drive—including during the holidays. If you do, you could not only get arrested and face severe penalties, but you will also increase the probability of getting into a collision that could cause serious damage to you and your car—not to mention other parties and passengers.
Below are some drunk driving statistics during the holidays to help you make informed decisions in everyone’s best interest. We want you to become more aware of the risks that you assume if you choose to drink and drive, so you can take extra precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe during the holiday season.
Drunk driving statistics during the holidays
The facts are sobering: hundreds of Americans die during every holiday season due to drunk driving incidents. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is one of the riskiest times of the year to drive. In 2018, in that week alone, there were 285 deaths due to drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This accounted for 37 percent of fatalities involving drinking and driving during that week. That same year, 10,511 people lost their lives nationally due to drunk driving accidents, comprising almost one-third of all driving-related fatalities.
These drinking and driving statistics tell a very sad story, especially since many of these car accidents and deaths were preventable. The good news is that those numbers are starting to go down. We can hope that those numbers will continue to lower this year with more people staying home and off the roads.
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If you’re planning to be on the road during the holidays, whether you’re running to the store to grab a last-minute ingredient or are visiting your out-of-state family or friends, be responsible: don’t drink and drive. This applies to drivers of all kinds of vehicles, including motorcycles.
Remember, drunk driving is a very serious crime. It is against the law in every state, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Authorities could charge you with a misdemeanor or even a felony. They could also take away or suspend your driver’s license, issue large fines, and possibly send you to jail.
Keep in mind that driving high also increases your risk factors and the likelihood of a car accident. THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, can affect your ability to drive your car and to respond to unexpected situations that could put you and others in harm’s way.
The idea is to enjoy yourself over the holidays while at the same time to know when enough is enough and when to say no. If you’re planning to host or attending a holiday party, make sure that you and your guests have a designated driver lined up before you imbibe so you don’t end up with a Christmas DUI.
If you or anyone you know is involved in a collision during the holiday season—or at any other time—Fix Auto USA is open for business and ready to serve you. Bring your car to your local Fix Auto USA and let our highly trained technicians and friendly staff fix your car and get you back on the road again, safely.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Signal Hill, a leading collision repair shop serving Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles area including Wilmington, Burbank, Carson, Harbor City, and other communities.
