NHTSA’s Holiday Season National Enforcement Mobilization

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently gearing up for their Winter Holiday Season National Enforcement Mobilization. Although the holidays are typically a time of joy and togetherness for many families in California and throughout the U.S., they’re also, sadly, a time when there is a significant increase in injury-causing and fatal crashes on roadways.  

The holidays are a deadly time on U.S. roads. There are lots of motorists on the road traveling, and there are also a lot of holiday parties involving alcohol. Impaired driving is a huge problem between Thanksgiving and the New Year holiday. People are celebrating with alcohol, and many of them are getting behind the wheel.  

Holiday Drunk Driving Crashes by The Numbers 

  • During the 2017-2021 December months, there were more than 4,500 people killed in drunk-driving crashes in the U.S.  
  • In December of 2021, 1,013 people were killed in drunk driving crashes.  
  • Drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes at a much higher rate (721) in December of 2021 when compared to female drivers (208).  
  • You drivers, ages 21-34, accounted for the highest percentage (27 percent) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2021.  
  • Nighttime driving in December of 2021 was significantly more dangerous than daytime driving, with 29 percent of drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes between the hours of 6:00 p.m.and 5:59 a.m. being drunk. 

Plan a Safe Ride Home During The Holidays  

Officials with the NHTSA are calling on partygoers to plan safe rides home during the holiday season and throughout the next year. If you’re going to celebrate with alcohol, designate a driver. It’s always good to have a backup plan too. If a ride falls through, you’ll still need to get home safely. A backup plan can be as simple as using a ridesharing app or pre-programming a cab company’s number into your phone.  

The team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. wishes everybody a Safe and Happy Holiday Season, and if you have been injured by a drunk driver in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, contact the skilled and proven team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation today.