New Year’s Eve can be one of the deadliest times on roads because of the increase in DUI incidents during this holiday. According to Scram Systems, approximately 28 percent of the highway deaths are related to drunk driving crashes. However, that percentage increases to 58 percent for the New Year’s holiday. In comparison, the percentage at Thanksgiving is 35 percent, and at Christmas it is 41 percent. Therefore, you need to be very careful when driving on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Driving Tips to Avoid a DUI Accident on New Year’s
You might not be able to avoid a drunk driver; however, you can take precautions to reduce your risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident during the holidays. Some tips to keep in mind for the New Year’s holiday include:
- Stay alert when driving and watch for signs of impaired drivers. If a driver is weaving, changing lanes without warning, driving very slowly, swerving, or otherwise driving erratically, that driver might be drunk. Place as much distance between you and the other driver and notify the police.
- If you choose to consume alcohol during the holidays, do not drink and drive. Plan ahead so that you can stay overnight or have an alternate ride home.
- When hosting holiday parties, help your guests avoid consuming too much alcohol by serving plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
- If you host a large party, you might want to consider hiring a professional bartender to help watch for guests who might be too drunk to drive. Bartenders are trained to see the signs of intoxication.
- When you and your friends go out on New Year’s Eve, you should have a designated driver or have a plan so that you do not need to get behind the wheel after the clock strikes midnight.
Drinking and Driving in the United States
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic deaths caused by alcohol-impaired drivers increased from 2015 to 2016. During 2016, 10,497 people died in DUI crashes nationwide. On average, one person died every 50 minutes in 2016 in drunk driving crashes.
Scram Systems reports that:
- 781 people died in December 2016 in DUI accidents
- Almost 4,000 people lost their lives between December 2012 and December 2016 in drunk driving accidents
- 61 percent of the traffic deaths on New Year’s Day involve drunk drivers
- New Year’s Day is the deadliest day for drunk driving accidents
Hire a New Orleans DUI Accident Attorney
If a drunk driver causes a DUI crash, that driver can be held responsible for any damages arising from that accident. In other words, the drunk driver can be held responsible for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other damages caused by the crash.
Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm can help you file a claim if you have been injured in a DUI accident. Contact our office for a free consultation with a New Orleans DUI accident attorney. Call (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request your free consultation with one of our New Orleans injury attorneys.