Upcoming holiday season is peak time for DUI arrests

The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the most dangerous time of the year to be driving. That’s why it’s important to remember to call Sweet James Accident Attorneys if you’re injured because of a DUI accident.

Nearly 30 fatalities are caused every day in the U.S. due to DUI accidents, which equates to one friend or family member every 52 minutes, according to the National Highway Travel Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, 10,000 Americans are lost every year due to DUI accidents and damages cost roughly $44 billion annually.

And with the holiday season just around the corner, the chances of being the victim of a DUI accident increase exponentially for those traveling by car.

Arizona has seen an uptick in DUI arrests from last year over the course of various 2021 holidays. Fourth of July and Labor Day DUI arrests were up from 2020 but down from 2019. However, Cinco de Mayo saw an overall increase from previous years and Halloween had more than the last two years combined.

Nearly 1,800 total people were arrested in Arizona on suspicion of driving under the influence over the aforementioned holiday periods in 2021 compared to the almost 700 arrested over the same holiday periods in 2020 and just under 1,200 in 2019.

Here are the upcoming holiday periods that are statistically the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road:

Blackout Wednesday

Also known as “Whiskey Wednesday” and “Drinksgiving,” the day before Thanksgiving can be one of the most dangerous times to be behind the wheel.

Over 800 people died in the U.S. due to DUI accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday period from 2013 to 2017, according to NHTSA, making it one of the deadliest holidays of the year.

And with friends and family gathering for the midweek holiday, that can also lead to a spike in drunk-driving accidents the week of Thanksgiving.

Christmas 

There are at least 45 DUI accidents per day in the U.S. during the three-day Christmas holiday period, according to BACtrack.

In fact, 40% of all traffic fatalities between Christmas and New Year’s are caused by DUI drivers, according to the NIAAA, making December the deadliest month for DUI every year, per American Addiction Centers.

This year’s holiday festivities might be the first time some family and friends have been able to get together for quite some time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead to celebratory drinking.

New Year’s Eve and Day

With New Year’s Eve and Day being one of the biggest times of celebration, it’s also one of the most dangerous times to be on the road as either a driver or pedestrian.

The two-day New Year’s holiday sees an average of 31.7 DUI deaths per day and even more DUI arrests and DUI hit-and-runs accidents, according to ValuePenguin.

Walking the streets during the holiday period is also incredibly dangerous, as more pedestrian deaths occur on New Year’s Day than any other day of the year despite police checkpoints scattered across Arizona checking for potential drunk drivers on New Year’s Eve.

“Charges range from misdemeanors to felony offenses, and penalties for impaired driving can include driver’s license revocation, fines and jail time,” the NHTSA’s website said.

“It’s also extremely expensive. A first-time offense can cost the driver upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees.”

Arizona also requires offenders to install an ignition interlock device at the driver’s own expense. An ignition interlock device is a breath-testing device connected to the ignition and won’t start the vehicle unless the driver’s BAC is under 0.02.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a drunk driving accident, get a free accident report from Sweet James Accident attorneys.

Visit: SweetJames.com if you need help on your road to recovery, Sweet James can provide you with a free case evaluation and make sure you’re protected. You can also call 800-500-5200.