Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the holiday season, which ends after New Years Day. Everyone gets excited, and typically, this is a festive time with lots of parties, gift giving, dining out and drinking alcoholic beverages.
However despite the good cheer, statistics also show that binge drinking spikes during the holidays, so much so that it makes the rest of the year pale by comparison. More drunk drivers are on the roads than any other time, which puts people at risk for accidents.
Drunk Drivers Statistics from Thanksgiving to New Years
Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS) , runs a campaign called “Sober Days for the Holidays.” According to AMS, DUI rates and deaths increase during the holiday season.
AMS monitored more than 360,000 drunk drivers who were at high risk for alcohol consumption. They discovered that the five-week period between Thanksgiving and New Years had 33% more violations than any other time of the year. The monitoring was for drivers who knew they were subjected to tests every 30 minutes, understood they would be arrested for DUI and could be sure they would face legal consequences, such as jail time. Despite all these deterrents, they could not stop themselves from drinking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between Thanksgiving and Christmas 728 people will die or suffer injury, and this statistic is double or triple the rest of the year.
As a way to avoid drunk driving during the holiday season, be sure to designate drivers and put transportation plans in place before drinking alcohol. If you see a car weaving in a lane or other evidence of drunken driving, keep your distance.
