Be a Responsible Driver This Holiday Season

• December 19, 2022
• Automobile Accidents, Driver Safety

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But it’s also a time when alcohol consumption increases, making December a critical month for alcohol awareness campaigns like Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. The message is simple yet lifesaving: drinking and driving do not mix.

Be a responsible driver, use these tips, and drive sober.

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Stay Safe. Drive Responsibly.

Celebrate the holidays, but do it safely. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and others on the road by making smart choices.

Arrive Home Alive

Know how you will be getting home at the end of your outing. Be sure to have a backup plan in case something changes. It pays to plan ahead!

• Choose a designated driver and confirm that they have not had any alcohol to drink before getting into a car with them. If they have, go to your backup plan.
• Save cab company numbers or service contacts in your phone. As we get closer to the holidays, some companies may even offer special fares.
• Download ride-sharing apps (Uber, Lyft)  to your phone. You can even pre-populate your information to make it a quicker process.
• Check public transportation schedules. Know what runs by where you will be, such as the bus.

Safety Tips When Drinking Alcohol

• Pace yourself. When drinking alcohol, allow at least one hour between drinks because it takes one hour to get rid of one drink from your body.
• Set limits as to the number of drinks you plan to have before you start.
• Alternate drinking alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda, juice, and water. It is always helpful to eat food while drinking alcohol, too.
• Never mix alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medications or illegal substances.

Hosting an Event Serving Alcohol

If you’re the host, you play a vital role in keeping guests safe.

• Identify designated drivers or ensure guests have a safe ride home.
• Collect each guest’s keys at the door. Only return keys to sober drivers.
• Serve food or snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Stop serving alcohol 1 to 2 hours before your party ends.

Need More Information?

• 6 Tips for Hosting a Safe Holiday Party
• NHTSA – Drunk Driving

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Stay safe this holiday season. Drive responsibly.

According to the NHTSA, in 2023, there were 12,429 people killed nationwide in drunk driving crashes— that is one every 42 minutes.

Drunk driving is more prevalent during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. In 2023, there were:

• 298 Drunk-Driving-Related Deaths During Christmas/New Year’s Holiday Periods
• 1,038 Lives Lost In Drunk-Driving Crashes
• 4,931 People Killed In December Drunk-Driving Crashes From 2019-2023

Alcohol impairs judgment, slows reaction times, and can turn a night of celebration into tragedy.

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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

If you or a loved one has been impacted by a drunk driving accident, our experienced legal team is here to help. We provide free, no-obligation case evaluations and will speak with you personally to guide you through your options.

Contact us today at (877) 284-6600 to speak with our knowledgeable staff.

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Past results afford no guarantee of future results, and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on December 10, 2019. It was reviewed for content and accuracy, and re-published on December 19, 2022. Reviewed on December 9, 2024, for statistical accuracy. Updated on December 12, 2025.

Photo Credits:

• photodesign(Dusan Zidar) – Image File – via depositphotos.com
• lola19(Gordan Jankulov) – Image File – via depositphotos.com
• iJacky(Jakkrit Orrasri) – Image File – via depositphotos.com