Drunk Driving During the Holidays

Motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol fatally injures an estimated 10,000 people each year. It is a serious public safety problem affecting communities and families in all areas of the country year-round, but the danger increases during the winter holidays, as seasonal celebrations turn fatal when drivers under the influence of alcohol get behind the wheel. Drunk driving is a serious problem. This troubling driver behavior is the cause of a significant number of traffic fatalities at any time of year, but such preventable and selfish risk-taking is at its height during the holidays.

Year-End Peak in DUI Deaths

Each year, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, drunk drivers are involved in 40 percent of traffic deaths, which represent an increase of 12 percent over figures recorded for the rest of December, according to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Protect Yourself

During the holidays, it is important to take steps to improve safety on the roads. For yourself and others, choosing to drive sober is the best possible choice before getting behind the wheel. If you do choose to drink, plan to get home safely by arranging a ride with a designated driver or ride-share service. Since you will be sharing the road with drivers who may choose drink and drive or to exhibit other reckless behavior, remember that using a seat belt is the number one way to protect yourself in the event of a crash.

Do Not Test the Limits

The holidays are a time for celebrating. For many, celebrating involves alcohol. During the holiday season, people are likely to overindulge. Occasional or infrequent drinkers may be more likely to drink more during the festivities of the holidays, overshooting their usual limits. Heavy or chronic drinkers may also overdo it, since they are more likely to be in the company of other drinkers.

In many cases, overindulgence can influence poor choices when it comes to driving while intoxicated. Knowing your limits is essential, but it is even more vital to have a safe plan to get yourself home.

Consequences of DUI

Law enforcement efforts to keep drunk drivers off the roads increase over the holidays. Officers use sobriety check points and roadway surveillance from unmarked cars to deter would-be drunk drivers and to apprehend those they encounter. Penalties of being caught driving under the influence include fines, as well as license suspension and/or a mandatory alcohol education program. In Illinois, a DUI conviction may carry a jail sentence of up to a year and a $2,500 fine for a first offense. However, these criminal penalties pale in comparison to the possible repercussions of knowing your choice led to a deadly accident.

Edwardsville Car Wreck Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC Help DUI Victims Obtain Compensation

If you were hurt in a car accident with an intoxicated driver, contact the Edwardsville car wreck lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC today. Contact us online or call us at 618-277-3644 for a free consultation. Located in Swansea, Illinois, we represent clients throughout Belleville, Carbondale, East St. Louis, Granite City, Edwardsville, Chester, Waterloo, St. Louis, Madison County, St. Clair County, Monroe County, and Randolph County.