The Most Dangerous Holidays

The holidays are a time for celebration. Unfortunately, some people take their celebration too far and drink before they drive. Since the risk of encountering a driver who is driving while impaired increases during the holidays, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety tends to launch its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign during high-travel holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and Independence Day. The organization estimates that in one year, 353 traffic fatalities, or 24 percent of all Georgia traffic deaths, involve alcohol-impaired drivers.

At Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., we’ve listed the most dangerous holidays for motor vehicle accidents and offer practical tips to keep you safe this holiday season.

The Most Dangerous Holidays  

The holidays are always a dangerous time of the year. Holidays are when we have the extra time to see family and friends, meaning more people are hitting the road. The holidays are also a time to relax, kick back, and celebrate with loved ones. The only problem is that some people take their celebrations too far and then make poor decisions that can cost them or another person their life. Statistics indicate that impaired driving accidents tend to skyrocket around significant holidays. These are some of the most dangerous holidays for driving:  

New Year’s Day

By all accounts, the New Year holiday is one of the most dangerous holidays of the year because of the number of drunk driving-related accidents that occur on U.S. roadways.

One publication suggests you have a 117 percent higher-than-average risk of encountering a drunk driver on New Year’s Day. The New Year’s holiday is marked by indulgence and alcohol as revelers say goodbye to the previous year and ring in the new. Unfortunately, many party-goers fail to make a solid plan for how they’ll get home at the end of the night. The result of this lack of planning is that they end up driving while impaired. Alcohol impairs the brain’s reaction time, reasoning, and muscle coordination. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37 people die in drunk-driving crashes every day.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is another dangerous holiday for motorists in Georgia and the United States. AAA estimates that more than 49 million people hit the road over the Thanksgiving holiday to visit family and friends. With so many more people on the road, the chances of significant car accidents occurring increase dramatically.

Add the increase in traffic to the inclement weather conditions common around the holiday and alcohol, and you have a recipe for a holiday disaster. One report indicates that Thanksgiving is one of the deadliest times of the year because of the number of motor vehicle crashes. At least 2,456 people have lost their lives in car crashes over the Thanksgiving holiday within a five-year period.  

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July holiday is another dangerous time for drunk driving-related accidents. You have a 77 percent higher-than-average risk of encountering an impaired driver on the roads around the Independence Day holiday. It can also be one of the deadliest weekends for drunk driving accidents, depending on what day the holiday hits. When Independence Day creates a three-day weekend, drunk driving-related crashes and fatalities tend to increase.

Labor Day

The Labor Day holiday weekend is another big travel day because it is seen as the last significant holiday of the summer. Closing out the summer season with friends and family in the great outdoors is extremely popular. However, many people celebrate the end of summer with excessive amounts of alcohol, leading to an increase in impaired driving accidents. One study places Labor Day behind Thanksgiving as one of the most dangerous times of the year to hit the road. Over five years, 2,351 people lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents over the Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is also a dangerous holiday because there is an increase in other types of significant accidents, such as boating accidents, diving injuries, and drownings.

Memorial Day  

Memorial Day is the “unofficial” start to summer, and as such, it tends to be one of the first significant holiday weekends of the year that people can let loose and enjoy themselves. However, that also means you are more likely to encounter traffic congestion and impaired drivers on the roadways.

Injured in a Holiday Accident? Contact Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. for Help Today

Navigating the holiday season after you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else can be supremely challenging. Please don’t do it alone. An experienced personal injury attorney with Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. can manage your claim while you recover and focus on family over the holidays.

Contact our Georgia office today by calling (770) 205-8827 to set up a free legal consultation.

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