An Increase of Drunk Driving During the 2017 Holidays? Plan to Drive Sober

Make your Christmas merry and bright this year by not making the decision to drink and drive.

Holiday Drunk Driving Statistics (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s)

During the holidays, between Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve, drunk driving crashes rise. And it never relents year after year. In 2016 during the month of December alone, 781 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. And four out of 10 highway deaths around the holiday are due to drunk driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases holiday safety campaigns against drunk driving every year, such as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

NHTSA Holiday Drunk Driving Prevention Campaigns

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over creates more awareness ever year about enhanced law enforcement with sobriety checkpoints during the holidays. This year, the campaign will last until New Year’s Day. If law enforcement catches someone drinking and driving, the driver will be pulled over and arrested.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving reminds everyone that drinking and driving is a dangerous combination. Alcohol affects everyone in different ways, but there’s no denying that even one drink could cause impairment behind the wheel.

Make a Plan Before Your Christmas and Holiday Events

When you think you’re OK to drive after a drink or two at your holiday party, think again. Have a plan in place before you even arrive at the party to have a designated driver or a rideshare app like Lyft on your phone. NHTSA also has a safety app named SaferRide that allows you to call a taxi or a predetermined friend on your smartphone.

Let’s change the statistics and make our roadways safer so everyone gets home to their families this holiday season. Smart Start hopes you have a safe and happy holiday!

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