If you are like most Americans, you associate the Thanksgiving holiday with a few key traditional symbols: turkeys, family dinners and maybe a pilgrim or two. But for police, the holiday season means something different, an influx of intoxicated drivers and accidents.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most dangerous time for a driver to be on the road is the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the number of on-the-road fatalities involving an intoxicated driver spikes to about 45 a day. Thanksgiving Eve has even been referred to as “Black Wednesday,” by bartenders and restaurant owners, as it is one of the busiest nights of the year for bars.
The real cost of a holiday DUI is much more than a fine. In many cases, driving while intoxicated risks the lives of both the driver and other parties on the road. The US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that intoxicated driving during the holidays accounts for 40% of traffic-related deaths during these dates. Driving drunk won’t just leave you searching for a way to pay a fine. Should you injure someone on the road, you’ll be in need of a criminal defense lawyer in Somerset County as well, as you’ll be facing criminal charges for your actions.
No matter how you cut it, drunk driving is never worth the risk. If you’re going out, make sure that you have a designated driver or you use a ride-sharing app like Lyft or Uber to get you home safely.
This holiday season, know the risks and don’t ever drink and drive. However, if you’ve already found yourself with a DUI, the first thing you need to do is consult with a DUI lawyer from Simon Law Group in Clinton Township, who can guide you through the next steps of your case and any upcoming hearing.
If you are seeking representation, submit a consultation request so the intake team can review conflict, scope, and next steps.