While driving under the influence (DUI) is illegal every day of the year, you may wonder what holiday has the most DUIs. If you are charged with DUI, contact a Fairfax DUI lawyer at Select Law Partners PLLC. We are here to help you build your defense strategy and keep you from suffering the consequences.
Holiday DUI statistics
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles found nearly 6,749 alcohol-related crashes occurred on our roads in the most recent reporting year with nearly 16,000 DUI arrests made.
When it’s time to get together with friends and family, people typically drink more, and there are more vehicles on the road. These conditions lead not only to more arrests but to more injuries and fatalities.
In addition, there is a dramatic increase in the number of holiday DUI checkpoints throughout the state. The combination of more drinks, more drivers, and more police officers results in a substantial increase in DUI arrests.
What holiday has the most DUI arrests?
There are three major holidays during which people tend to consume larger amounts of alcohol and travel by car.
Thanksgiving
During the long Thanksgiving Day weekend, the chances of dying in a crash caused by a drunk driver are as high as 36%, according to the National Safety Council.
Fourth of July
Many people begin drinking early in the day on July 4th and continue well into the evening when the fireworks begin. This puts the risk of dying from a drunk driver 39% greater than on other days of the year, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
New Year’s Eve
When it comes to the holiday with the most DUIs, you are 117% more likely to be the victim of a DUI driver on New Year’s Eve than any other night. The combination of alcohol, wintry weather, and late hours add up to an extreme chance of injury or death in an accident.
What time of year do most DUIs happen?
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve involve not only greater alcohol consumption but also the potential for overeating. Eating too much combined with drinking can make a driver both drunk and drowsy, compounding their risk of getting into a serious crash.
Tensions at family gatherings can leave a driver emotionally distracted. They may drink too much to deal with their feelings. Even at happy events, there is the risk of having one too many before going home.
When added to winter weather, it’s a deadly recipe for DUI-related car accident deaths. The biggest DUI holidays can also end up putting victims in the hospital or drivers in jail, with significant consequences.
Avoid DUI any time of year with these steps
In Virginia, a driver is guilty of DUI when they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than 0.08%. The penalties and fines associated with even a first-time charge can total thousands of dollars. You could lose your driver’s license and go to jail. If someone is injured or killed, you could be sent to prison for years.
Avoid these consequences by taking these sensible steps:
- Restrict the number of drinks you consume during an event.
- Drink plenty of water to reduce the effects of alcohol on your body and mind.
- Serve non-alcoholic drinks at gatherings.
- Make plans for a designated driver for yourself and others.
- Make arrangements to spend the night where you will be drinking to avoid driving.
- Use rideshare services to get home instead of taking your own car.
- Collect and protect car keys for your partygoers so no one can leave if they are intoxicated.
Get help for a DUI charge in Fairfax, VA
Meet with an experienced DUI defense attorney in Fairfax, VA, when you schedule a consultation with Select Law Partners PLLC. Contact us by phone at (855) 541-4867 or use our online form today.
