drunk-driving.jpg

New Year's Eve:

The Most Dangerous Night on U.S. Roads

It's almost New Year's Eve! As you're planning your celebration, take into consideration that between 6 p.m. on December 31 and 6 a.m. on January 1 are the most dangerous hours of the year to drive or ride in a car on our nation's roadways. If possible, avoid being on the road during that window of time.

On New Year's Eve 2016, 33 people died in U.S. alcohol-related crashes. That was up from 2015, when there were 29 deaths on the same night. All of these deaths were 100% preventable if only those drivers had planned ahead and avoided driving after consuming alcohol.

As Richmond drunk driver accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we present some facts to encourage you to put safety and sober driving first as you consider your New Year's Eve plans.

U.S. Drunk Driving Statistics

The following are the 2016 U.S. statistics from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration:

  • 10,497 deaths due to drunk or alcohol-impaired driving—that's one person every 50 minutes—representing the second straight year of increased drunk driving deaths.
  • More than 290,000 people were injured as a result of drunk driving accidents.
  • 28% of motor vehicle accident deaths were caused by drunk driving.
  • 1,233 children ages 14 and under were killed in alcohol-impaired car accidents.

Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics

The Division of Motor Vehicles reported Virginia's 2016 statistics:

  • A total of 7,482 crashes in the Commonwealth were related to alcohol, including 4,855 injuries and 262 fatalities.
  • There were 19,925 DUI convictions.
  • The average blood alcohol concentration of Virginia's DUI convictions was 0.1452—nearly twice the legal threshold for drunk driving, which is .08.

Keeping the number of fatalities, accidents and injuries in mind, what steps will you take to avoid driving drunk this New Year's Eve?

If you don't have a plan to get home safely or to spend the night within walking distance of an event where you'll be drinking, you are effectively planning to drive drunk this New Year's Eve.

Plan Ahead to Prevent Drunk Driving

As the New Year's holiday approaches, it's critical to remind ourselves and others of the serious dangers of drunk driving. Law enforcement will be on patrol with sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols to catch drunk drivers before they can injure or kill themselves or others. Plan ahead to prevent drunk driving by staying sober or arranging alternative transportation or overnight accommodations to save yourself the cost, shame and embarrassment of being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Remember:

  1. Never get in the car with a driver who has been drinking. Even one alcoholic beverage can impair his or her ability to drive safely.
  2. Make sure friends and family who celebrate with you have a safe ride home, or invite them to sleep on your couch or spare bed.
  3. Download the NHTSA's SaferRide App, or call Uber, Lyft or a taxi to help you get home safely.
  4. Texting while driving can be up to six times as dangerous as driving while drunk. Encourage friends and family to put their phones out of sight until they arrive safely.
  5. If you wake up early on New Year's Day after consuming too many adult beverages the night before, be aware that you could still be legally intoxicated and don't drive until enough time has passed that you're sober.

Our advice? Stay inside and sleep the day away on New Year's Day: it's one of the most dangerous days to drive and there's lots of great football to watch on TV. We hope you will enjoy a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

If you have been injured at work or through the negligence of another individual or entity, contact us at (804) 999-9999 or or use the form below to connect with our legal team. We will fight to get you the justice you deserve.