The holidays are spent enjoying time with family and friends. Everyone eagerly looks forward to the holidays, planning what they will do, who to invite to their homes, and where to celebrate. When driving to a party or celebration, the last thing we expect on the way is getting into an auto accident. But holiday traffic accidents are surprisingly common all over the United States. The National Safety Council predicts that there will be over 300 fatal road incidents during the holiday period.
Alcohol is the main culprit in holiday traffic accidents. After consuming large amounts of food and alcohol, some people drive home thinking that they are capable of controlling the wheel and nothing bad will happen. Not only is their decision-making impaired, but their hand-eye coordination is also affected, making it difficult to react to sudden changes on the road.
While the Christmas holidays are the longest and present a large spike in traffic accidents, other holidays also have spikes in traffic accidents:
Thanksgiving Holiday
There is an uptick in alcohol consumption on Blackout Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. On that day, many Americans take the opportunity to binge drink because there is no work or school the next day. The Thanksgiving Holiday is also the time when the most people travel to meet up with family and friends. This results in more people driving across the country. That alone increases the chances of road incidents.
Over 800 people were killed during the Thanksgiving Holidays of 2012 to 2016 due to vehicular crashes.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day typically lasts from Friday to Monday of the next week. That four-day weekend gives people the opportunity to spend time with family and friends to celebrate the warmer months. It is a festive atmosphere with events all over the nation.
Like the Thanksgiving Holiday, people are busy traveling to meet people. With more people driving to and fro, congested roads and freeways give rise to road accidents everywhere.
The 4th of July
Celebrating the independence of the nation has always been an important event across the country. It is a time to watch fireworks, have barbecues, and drink alcohol. Like most holidays, it’s another perfect opportunity to celebrate with friends and family. A happy occasion could turn sour with one bad decision.
Unfortunately, that celebration comes with the risks associated with drinking too much alcohol. Data shows that 71% of drunk driving accidents during this time involve a driver with a blood alcohol level over 0.15% — one and a half times the legal limit in most states.
Staying Safe on the Road During Holidays
There is a pattern with these and any other holiday traffic accidents. An increase in people traveling and consuming alcohol can easily be identified as the primary culprits. Of course, there are other factors to consider, like:
- An increase in the amount of inexperienced drivers on the road;
- Out-of-town motorists;
- Poor weather conditions;
- Road closures; and
- An unfamiliarity with routes.
Here are a few tips to stay safe on the road during the holidays:
- Designate a driver when traveling to attend parties.
- Use a ride-hailing app instead of driving when you plan on drinking alcohol.
- Inspect vehicles to be used for long trips to ensure they are roadworthy.
- Plan and familiarize yourself with routes.
- Avoid distractions when driving.
- Stay within the speed limit.
- Follow traffic rules and regulations.
The holidays are always an exciting time. It is wise to plan ahead for festivities, ensuring that you don’t run into any mishap during a time of celebration. Be smart about how you spend the holidays. And if you do get into trouble on the road, you can contact Friedman Law for assistance on what you should do next.