'Tis the season for holiday parties - as well as our annual holiday reminder to never drink and drive and get behind the wheel. It also coincides with this week's launch of this National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign that aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk. The campaign kicked off Wednesday, December 11, and runs through January 1st, a time during which you'll see an increased presence of law enforcement on the roads.
New data from NHTSA shows that December drunk driving deaths are the highest in 15 years. In December 2022, the most recent data year available, 1,062 people died in drunk driving traffic crashes – the most since 2007. From 2018 to 2022, NHTSA recorded more than 4,750 deaths in drunk driving traffic crashes during the month of December.
Even if you're a responsible driver and don't drink and drive, there are things you can do to help change the statistic. Always wear your seatbelt. NTHSA calls it your best defense against impaired drivers, and If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911.
Here are other ways to prevent a tragedy:
Be a positive influence.
Whether you’ve invited family over for the holidays, are celebrating a sports win or gathering for a family event, urge your friends and family to designate a sober driver any time they plan to consume alcohol.
Plan Ahead for a Safe Celebration.
If you are hosting a party, follow these tips to help save lives:
You could be held responsible for serving alcohol to a guest who later is involved in an accident and imagine the guilt you’d feel if your guest got hurt or killed or did this to someone else. It takes planning and coordination, but you can prevent drunk driving.
Photo: NHTSA.