Before you go over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house this holiday season, make sure to be particularly cautious, attentive, and defensive on the highway.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving through January 1st (including New Year’s day) are some of the most dangerous and deadly times to be on the roads. In fact, Thanksgiving eve has become THE most dangerous night of the year to drive, particularly in more urban areas, says SCRAM, makers of alcohol monitoring technology. Known as Blackout Wednesday, this holiday has surpassed New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day as the biggest drinking night of the year.
Add to this more traffic, more distractions, aggressive drivers, and more social occasions involving alcohol. It is up to each of us to:
- Practice safe, defensive driving
- Buckle up and make sure all passengers are buckled too.
- Make sure you, or your driver, are fit to drive – not tipsy or drowsy. If you are a passenger, help minimize distractions and help the driver stay awake and alert.
In general: If you see something, say something. If you see someone who has had too much to drink trying to get behind the wheel, say something. If you’re at a party, tell the host to take their keys, or call a designated driver for them.
If you are the party host, pay particular attention to how much alcohol you serve guests. If they injure someone while driving home, you could be liable under North Carolina law.
Thanksgiving
AAA estimated that nearly 80 million travelers drove 50 miles or more from home over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday period. No surprise, this family holiday ranks as one of the busiest travel periods just about every year. More cars on the roads too often translate to more accidents. Add alcohol to the equation, and this holiday weekend can turn deadly.
In fact, in 2024, there were 2,814 crashes in North Carolina over Thanksgiving (from 11/27-12/1). 1,208 of these crashes involved injuries while 23 involved fatalities.
Christmas
The Christmas holiday season can be stressful. Combine stress with busy roads and you can get aggressive drivers. A State Farm survey found that nearly one-third of drivers were more likely to show signs of aggression or road rage during the holidays.
December is a bad month for driving in general. On average, more than 25,000 drivers in North Carolina get into a crash in December. In December 2024, there were 9,510 crash injuries across the state. For the Christmas 2024 period specifically, running from 12/24-12/25, there were 536 crashes of which 249 involved injuries.
New Year’s Day
A surprise to some, New Year’s Day (not New Year’s Eve) almost always ranks in the top seven deadliest days of the year and has been ranked the deadliest day. Alcohol – a primary culprit.
The New Year’s 2024 holiday had 893 crashes  in NC (from 6 pm on the 31st until midnight on the 1st), with 318 resulting in injury.
Alcohol Behind Nearly Half of Holiday Car Crash Deaths
There’s one thing each of these deadly days has in common: Drunk drivers. Over a 25-year period, according to a Forbes study that analyzed U.S. Department of Transportation data since 1982, nearly half the fatalities during these times were alcohol-related.
For Thanksgiving 2024, there were 197 alcohol-related crashes, with 145 resulting in injury. For Christmas 2024, North Carolina saw 45 alcohol-related crashes, with 23 of those resulting in injury. And for New Year’s 2024, there were 57 injuries and 3 fatalities related to crashes involving alcohol.
Tragic Consequences of North Carolina Drunk Driving
Here’s a tragic story the News & Observer reported on about a drunk driving collision and a 22-year-old driver faced with 70 years in prison. He was charged with multiple felonies after a collision he caused in Raleigh, which led to three deaths and multiple injuries.
The crash happened at 2:30 on a Sunday morning. He was driving drunk and traveling about 50 mph in a 35-mph zone. He lost control of the car, and it went off the road, struck a light pole, a street sign, and a tree before overturning.
There were seven people inside the car. One of the victims was sitting in the lap of the driver at the time of the accident. The victims were just 22, 21, and 18. Two of the victims were thrown from the vehicle.
The young driver, who is the son of a pastor, was accused of six felony charges which can potentially carry a prison sentence of nearly 70 years total. He faces 17 years for each death and seven years for each serious injury.
Three lives ended. Another potentially behind bars for life. This deadly and totally preventable collision is just one of many fatal accidents that occur throughout North Carolina. The three young people who died will never enjoy another holiday with their families. And sadly, neither will the driver who killed them. He will likely be behind bars because a driver made the wrong choice to drink and drive.
Designate a Driver – It’s Easier Than Ever
As you head into the holiday party season, keep in mind there are many more options today than ever for a sober ride home. Uber, Lyft, a Designated Driver service, a taxi – and of course, a sober companion. Many of these services are as convenient as clicking on an app, and some are more affordable than a taxi. Some will even drive you and your car home.
There are just no more excuses to get behind the wheel when you’ve been drinking.
Get a FREE Case Evaluation from Experienced Car Wreck Lawyers
If you do find yourself injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence – whether during the holidays or any other time – contact an experienced car wreck lawyer – contact us now for a free case evaluation to see if we can help or call us at 1-866-900-7078.
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