The holiday season is supposed to be one of joy and celebration. You may have already had various events to attend for Thanksgiving, and now, you are looking forward to the gatherings you will have from Christmas to New Year’s Eve. If you plan on doing any holiday traveling during this time, you may want to remember that safety is a top priority.
You would never make the choice to drink and drive, and if you do consume alcohol, you do so responsibly. Of course, you cannot account for the actions of other drivers on the roadways; whether you are traveling alone to a party or have your kids in the car heading to Grandma’s house, the risk exists of being involved in a serious accident because of a drunk driver.
Holiday drunk drivers
Unfortunately, the number of people on California roadways significantly increases during the holidays, which means that the number of drunk drivers also increases. Though the days surrounding Thanksgiving often see numerous drunk driving arrests, your chances of an accident are still high as the final holidays of the year approach.
Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that, over a five-year span, an average of 300 people lost their lives due to drunk drivers in the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Help prevent an accident
Though you cannot hold every person responsible for the way he or she acts, you can account for your own actions and may be able to help your friends act more responsibly too. If you consume alcohol at any holiday event or plan to, make sure you also have a plan for getting home safely. You may want to have a designated driver or have the number for a ride share service saved in your phone.
If you see that a friend or family member has had too much to drink, do not let him or her get behind the wheel. It can be difficult to stop someone who is determined to drive, but taking his or her keys and getting that person into a taxi may prevent a serious accident.
What if you receive an injury?
The risks of drunk driving accidents are high this time of year, and despite your best efforts, you or a loved one could end up seriously injured due to another person’s lapse in judgment. If so, you may want to remember that you have legal options for seeking compensation after such an accident.
