Holiday Season Provides Reminder of Drinking and Driving Dangers

 Posted on January 03, 2019 in Drunk Driving Accidents

On New Year’s Eve, a 25-year-old woman was arrested on DUI charges after crashing her vehicle into Riverside Brookfield High School. The collision, which occurred around 2:40 a.m., was one of only a handful of drunk driving collisions in the greater Chicago area during the recent holiday season. For law enforcement officials and the public, the low number of drunk driving accidents represented a victory for anti-DUI initiatives. 

Holiday Drunk Driving

The holiday season brings celebrations, and many of those involve the consumption of alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of American adults admit to drinking more during the holidays. It should come as no surprise that more than 33 percent of all December traffic fatalities occur between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

While holiday drinking and driving accidents may have declined in the greater Chicago area this holiday season, inebriated holiday driving seems to be on the rise. In 2017, drunk driving fatalities in the month of December rose by 13 percent nationwide. In all, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that approximately 25,000 traffic collisions occur between Thanksgiving and January 1 on an annual basis. 

Drunk Driving Facts

Unfortunately, drunk driving continues to endanger drivers throughout the United States, regardless of the time of year. Every day, an average of 29 Americans die in motor vehicle collisions caused by drunk drivers. In all, more than 10,000 people die in drunk driving accidents throughout the U.S. each year. Despite nationwide initiatives, from increased patrol vehicles and checkpoints to anti-drunk driving advertisement campaigns, drinking and driving accidents continue to occur in startling numbers. 

If you notice a driver displaying signs of inebriation (speeding, reckless swerving, and tailgating), keep your distance and call the police as soon as possible. 

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer 

At Salvi and Maher, L.L.C., our team is dedicated to helping families receive the injury compensation they deserve. In the vast majority of motor vehicle collisions, the accident was caused by driver negligence, including DUI accidents. Car accident injuries can come with costly medical bills, expensive physical therapy, and a substantial loss of work. To schedule a free consultation with a Waukegan personal injury attorney, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

Sources: 

https://www.scramsystems.com/images/uploads/general/content-images/holiday/drinking-duis-holidays-infographic.pdf

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/crime/drunken-driver-crashes-near-suburban-high-school-police

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving