Posted on Friday, December 29th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the year that was and the year that is coming. Many people choose to spend the evening with friends and family celebrating until long after the clock has struck midnight. Unfortunately, too many people will celebrate too much and then get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Sadly, the New Year will begin as a tragedy for many families.
Alcohol-Impaired Driving in the United States
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), one person died every 50 minutes in an alcohol-impaired driving accident during 2016. Fatalities from drunk driving accidents increased slightly during 2016 from 2015 to 10,497 deaths. California had the second highest number of DUI accident fatalities in the nation during 2016.
The winter holiday season is one of the worst times for drunk driving accidents. According to information by Scram Systems:
- 781 people died in drunk driving accidents in December 2016
- Between December 2012 and December 2016, 3,995 people were killed in drunk driving crashes
- 41 percent of the highway deaths during the Christmas Holiday can be attributed to alcohol-related accidents
- 61 percent of the traffic deaths on New Year’s Day can be attributed to alcohol-impaired drivers
- New Year’s Day is the deadliest day of the year for drunk driving crashes
- One in eight drivers who admit to driving after consuming alcohol say they thought they were close to or over the legal limit for blood-alcohol content
- Slightly over one-half of admitted drunk drivers say they drink more during the holidays
- One-half of adults responding to a survey state that alcohol plays a role in family gatherings during the holidays
- 96 percent of adults admitted going to work hungover, or they knew someone who went to work hungover during the holidays
- It is estimated that you are two to three times more likely to be killed in a drunk driving accident between Thanksgiving and New Year’s
- Approximately 25,000 people will be injured, and 1,200 people will be killed during the winter holidays
Even though you might not be able to stop someone else from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking, you can take precautions to reduce your risk of being involved in a DUI accident this New Year’s holiday.
Tips for Driving During the New Year’s Holiday
- If you plan to consume alcohol as part of your holiday celebration, you should arrange to stay overnight where you are celebrating or arrange another ride home.
- When hosting a New Year’s Eve party, assist guests in finding other ways home or make arrangements for guests to stay over. Hiring a professional bartender to help watch for signs of intoxication can be very helpful, especially for large parties.
- Select a designated driver for the group and treat that person to an alcohol-free night for volunteering to stay sober.
- If you spot a suspected drunk driver on the road, you need to put as much distance between your vehicle and the drunk driver as possible. A passenger should contact the police to report the incident.
Sacramento DUI Accident Attorneys
The DUI accident attorneys of The Tiemann Law Firm hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable New Year’s holiday. If you are injured in a DUI accident, we want you to know that we are here to help you. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries and damages from the person who made the poor decision to drive while intoxicated.
Call (916) 999-9000 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers to discuss your DUI accident claim. Our law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
