When you think of drinking holidays, Thanksgiving may not be the first one that comes to mind. Thanksgiving tends to be a family event marked by massive amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Sadly, the holiday ranks near the top for drinking and driving. Beginning Thanksgiving Eve and lasting through the holiday weekend, too many people get behind the wheel after drinking. Drinking and driving becomes an all-too-common occurrence that can have deadly consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2012 to 2016, over 800 people died in drunk driving related incidents during tis period.
Awareness is key to offsetting this tragic statistic. If more people would designate a driver, take a ride-sharing service such as Uber or lyft or utilize public transportation then the chance of a devastating drunk driving accident would lessen tremendously. The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the most traveled of the year meaning there are more people on the road than normal. Add alcohol to the mix and the consequences can be fatal. Drinking and driving can be deadly any time of year but the increase in holiday parties and increased number of people on the road make this time of year the deadliest. Be sure that you and your loved ones stay safe this Thanksgiving: designate a sober driver!