The DUI-Free Holiday: Don’t Drink and Drive This Christmas

Most of us have seen someone getting behind the wheel after they’ve had too much to drink. According to statistics, millions of people worldwide drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and most of them are convinced there’s no harm in driving themselves home after a couple of drinks. Some manage to get to their destination in one piece, but others – millions, in fact – will not only put themselves at risk of severe injury or even death, but also jeopardize the well-being of innocent people.

Nearly 16,000 people are killed every year in alcohol-related accidents - every minute, someone is injured in an accident caused by alcohol consumption and one person dies every half hour due to driving under the influence. Almost half of all traffic fatalities are caused by alcohol every year, government authorities reporting a staggering 112 million drunk driving incidents in 2010.

Data shows thatduring the winter season, the number of impaired drivers on the road increases dramatically, making the holidays an especially dangerous time. According to an article published on USA Today, researchers from the University of Alabama revealed that the days before and after Christmas are the deadliest on the road, with 18 percent more crashes than the days before Thanksgiving and 27 percent more than around New Year’s Day.

Risk Factors for DUI

Despite the many awareness campaigns and newswe see on TV every day, many of us still regard drunk driving as less serious than other criminal offenses. An opinion shared by many drivers is that DUI accidents only happen to alcoholics and are, anyway, very rare, although statistics have shown otherwise. The truth is, anyone can become a drunk driver – all it takes is a couple of drinks past the limit and a wheel in your hands, and you can become the next DUI offender or, worse yet, a dead victim.

Certain categories of people are, however, predisposed to be found driving under the influence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that:

• In 4 out of 5 cases, men are responsible for drinking and driving.

• Although male teenagers between the ages of 21 and 34 make up 11 percent of the U.S. population, they are responsible for 32 percent of all alcohol-related accidents.

• Alcoholics and binge drinkers are more likely to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. A staggering 85% of DUI episodes were reported by those who also reported having 5 or more drinks (for men) and 4 or more (for women).

Stay Safe for the Holidays

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is the name of the newest anti-DUI campaign launched by the West Chicago police earlier this month. Police are trying to increase the safety of all traffic participants and, to this purpose, will adopt a “zero tolerance” enforcement strategy against any person driving while impaired.

Fortunately, most holiday accidents are preventable. Here are some tips to make sure you will make it through the holidays in one piece:

Have a designated driver. Pick out a driver ahead of time – preferably someone you know and trust – and make sure they agree to take you home at the end of the night.

Be careful with drugs, even if they’re legal. Keep in mind that driving under the influence of prescription medication is still considered a criminal offense, perhaps just as serious as drunk driving. So, before popping pills and getting behind the wheel, take a few hours and let the effect wear off.

Call a taxi. If you can’t find any ride-sharing services in the area, ask the host of the party for a cab number. If you insist on going home, it’s better to ensure you will reach the destination.

DUI charges are the exact opposite of what you would expect to get for Christmas, so do your best to avoid getting behind the wheel drunk. If you are, however, stopped at a DUI checkpoint and your BAC is past the legal limit, make sure to get a criminal defense lawyer who can protect your rights and have the charges reduced to a minimum.

About the Author:

Andrew Weisberg is a criminal defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. A former prosecutor in Cook County, Mr. Weisberg is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, an elite group of criminal attorneys who are certified by the Illinois Supreme Court to try death penalty cases. He is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Weisberg is a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg.