The holidays are often a time for celebration and spending time with loved ones. Because many people celebrate with alcoholic beverages during this time, there is typically an increase in intoxicated driving around the holiday season as well.
While it’s challenging to rank each holiday on a “most dangerous” list, we want to discuss one of the most dangerous in terms of drunk driving accidents—New Year’s. While other holidays like St. Patricks Day, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July are also known for increased DUI numbers, New Year’s Eve is generally the most dangerous.
New Years Drunk Driving Statistics
Ringing out the New Year is something many of us love to do, but drunk driving during these celebrations remains prevalent on the road each year. Here are a few drunk driving accident-related statistics to put this in perspective:
Compared to the average night, there are 71% more crashes involving drugs or alcohol between 6 p.m. on December 31 and 6 a.m. on January 1
Individuals aged 21-24 are the most likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident.
Between 2008 and 2012, New Year’s Day had the highest percentage of alcohol-related deaths than any other day of the year.
On New Year’s Day in 2013, 140 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
The increase in drunk driving around New Year’s Eve is often exacerbated by the pressure to drink or involve yourself with drinking activities while celebrating the holiday. If you need to drive on New Year’s, removing yourself from a drinking environment can help decrease your likelihood of drinking and driving. If you were going to drive but you already started drinking, there are other options for you. Calling a cab, Uber, Lyft, or carpooling can be a safe alternative to driving home yourself while potentially intoxicated.
Why Police May Pull You Over
If you’re driving during this time, please keep in mind that police officers will have their eyes peeled for signs of intoxicated drivers. If they have probable cause, they may pull you over and give you a field sobriety test. Some telltale signs of drunk driving that they may look for include:
Quick acceleration or deceleration
Tailgating
Speeding
Erratic braking
Weaving or zigzagging across the road
Slow response to traffic signals
Hugging the center lane marker
Failing to obey traffic lights or signs
Failing to use headlights or blinkers
Driving unreasonably slow
Driving in the opposite lane of traffic
While these are just a few of the signs police will look for, there are other ways police can tell if you seem under the influence, so it’s best to operate carefully and use common sense.
Defend Your Rights After a DUI Charge
At The Law Office of Vaughan C Jones, we understand that everyone makes mistakes, and we also believe in second chances. DUI charges can present severe life-altering consequences if you do not handle them carefully. A skilled and knowledgeable lawyer will be able to help create a strong defense to support your case. If you’ve been arrested or charged with a DUI during New Year’s celebrations or at any point, know that we have your back.
Our team genuinely cares about helping individuals through their most challenging times and ensuring that they receive the best possible outcome, which may include a reduced sentence or charges completely dropped.
Turn to a team you can count on. Contact our firm at (804) 207-5735 to start your defense.