Since 1981, successive U.S. presidents have declared December National Drunk and Drug Driving Prevention Month, or starting in 2020, National Drunk Driving Prevention Month to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. The month of December was chosen simply because the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day consistently have a higher rate of drug- and alcohol-related accidents.
Drunk driving accident statistics during winter vacation
• During Thanksgiving weekend, there were an average of 158 DUI fatalities, which accounted for 36 percent of all traffic fatalities during that period.
• During the Christmas period, there are an average of 45 drunk driving fatalities per day.
• During the New Year’s holiday period, there were an average of 54 drunk driving fatalities per day.
• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 40 percent of traffic-related deaths during the weeks between Christmas and New Year’s involve drunk driving. This marks a 12% increase for the rest of December.
One of the reasons for the increase in drunk-driving accidents during the holidays is that people who normally don’t drink alcohol often celebrate the holiday with a few drinks and then make the mistake of thinking they’re allowed to drive. However, due to their low tolerance, a drink or two may well be enough to impair their driving ability.
We fight for those lost and injured by driving impairments
If you’ve lost a loved one in an impaired driving accident due to another driver’s reckless behavior, chances are you’re dealing with heartache and worrying about how you’ll pay your bills. In addition to regular expenses like food and mortgage payments, medical bills for accidents and funeral and burial costs can keep you up at night. If you agree to work together, a wrongful death attorney can ease your mind by discussing your legal rights and helping you obtain fair damages. Wrongful death awards typically include funeral expenses, medical expenses, pain and suffering, syndicate losses, lost wages, and other damages, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Driving Impairment Statistics
DUI has gotten more attention than drugged driving for years. While DUI is a very serious problem, it is important that we also discuss drug driving statistics and the risks of driving under the influence of drugs. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 20.5 million people drove under the influence of alcohol in 2018, and another 12.6 million people drove while under the influence of illicit drugs.
Choosing to drive while physically impaired ends in tragedy every day. According to CDC.gov, in the US alone, someone dies in a DUI crash every 50 minutes. According to the Governors Association for Highway Safety, 43.6 percent of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs in 2016, and more than half of those drivers had two or more drugs in their system.
How do alcohol and drugs increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents?
Every time we drive, we are technically running the risk of a motor vehicle accident. The best way to avoid a crash is to keep your mind fully focused on the road. If a driver takes drugs or alcohol and then decides to drive before the effects wear off, they may drive with impaired judgment, slower reaction times and reduced motor coordination. Different types of drugs produce different types of risky behaviors. For example, marijuana and alcohol often cause sluggish reactions, while street drugs such as cocaine can increase aggressive driving behavior, which can lead to accidents.
Seek Help from a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another person, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation you deserve. With the help of a lawyer, it is not uncommon to get five to ten times the payout from an insurance company. Call Tario & Associates, PS in Bellingham, WA for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney today! We have represented the residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You pay nothing upfront and pay no attorneys unless we recover your damages for you!
source:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/11/30/a-proclamation-on-national-impaired-driving-prevention-month-2022/#:~:text=NOW% 2C%20THEREFORE%2C%20I%2C%20JOSEPH,National%20Impaired%20Driving%20Prevention%20Month.
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/thanksgiving-day/
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2018-nsduh-detailed-tables
https://www.ghsa.org/resources/DUID18
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html#:~:text=Every%20day%2C%2029%20people%20in,totals%20more%20than%20%2444%20billion.
