Drunk-Driving Car Accidents in Alabama Expected to Increase Significantly through Holidays

Dec 27, 2011 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith

In Alabama, there were nearly 850 fatalities resulting from alcohol-related car accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere in 2009. Nearly 300 fatalities were the result of drunk-driving accidents that year, according to Alcohol Alert! The number of roadway fatalities resulting from drunk-driving accidents is typically more prominent in December when residents and visitors set out on road trips to visit friends and family members for the holidays. An increase in traffic will increase your risks for an accident, but the increase in drunk drivers we see during this time period increases your risks even more. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched this year’s ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign to crack down on drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“Safety is our focus year round at DOT. But this holiday season, we’re stepping up our efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads and reminding Americans ‘drive sober, or get pulled over,’ ” said USDOT Secretary LaHood. “We’re making gains in our fight against drunk driving, but we cannot and will not let up.”

Our Tuscaloosa drunk driving car accident attorneys understand that 2010 statistics illustrate a decrease in the total number of fatalities result from drunk-driving accidents. Still, there’s a sizable number of fatalities in December alone. These types of accidents are the cause of one out of every three fatalities on U.S. roadways each year. In 2010, there were nearly 10,500 people killed in the U.S. because of alcohol-related accidents. Nearly 430 of these fatalities occurred during the last part of December.

The holiday enforcement effort is taking place beginning this week through Jan. 2. Local, state and federal officers are on the hunt for alcohol-impaired drivers on roadways across the country to help reduce your risks for an accident.

The National Safety Council has also released its predictions of the number of fatalities that will occur during this year’s holiday season.

The Christmas Day holiday period is the time period from the 6 p.m. on the 23rd of December to 11:59 p.m. on the 26th of December. The estimated number of deaths for this time is about 278, with an estimated 28,700 injuries, according to the NSC.

NSC’s previous estimates/actual fatalities over the Christmas Day holiday period:

-2006: 415 estimated. 379 actual.

-2/car-accidents/alabama-traffic-accidents-likely-to-increase-with-economic-recovery/: 497 estimated. 454 actual.

-2008: 432 estimated. 409 actual.

-2009: 317 estimated. 248 actual.

The New Year’s Day holiday period is from 6 p.m. on the 30th of December to 11:59 p.m. on the 2nd of January. The NSC estimates that there will be nearly 300 fatalities and another 30,000 injuries during this time because of traffic accidents.

NSC’s previous estimates/actual fatalities over the New Year’s Day holiday period:

-2006: 399 estimated. 432 actual.

-2/car-accidents/alabama-traffic-accidents-likely-to-increase-with-economic-recovery/: 405 estimated. 387 actual.

-2008: 498 estimated. 407 actual.

-2009: 445 estimated. 458 actual.

Drivers are asked to be cautious, alert and sober at the wheel at all times. Our roadways are more dangerous and more deadly during this time than during any other time of the year. Please be responsible and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

More Blog Entries:

Birmingham Car Accidents: Holiday a Good Time to Discuss Safe Driving with Elderly Family Members, Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog, November 28, 2011

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to Reduce Fatal Car Accidents in Alabama, Nation, Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog, November 10, 2011