Despite stores already having Christmas and Hanukkah holiday season decorations up, we’re still closing in on Thanksgiving. One of the busiest travel times of the year, the extended Thanksgiving weekend is about getting together with your family and friends. Everyone has different Thanksgiving celebrations. For some, it’s watching twelve straight hours of football games. For others, it’s arguing politics with your uncle after doing your annual listen of “Alice’s Restaurant.” Maybe it’s seeing how many times you can fill and empty your plate with turkey and stuffing. However, there’s one frequent Thanksgiving event we should all do our best to avoid - drunk driving.
When listing holidays that have a high number of driving under the influence (DUI) arrests, New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day are often the ones that come to mind. However, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that over a four-year period from 2019-2023, more than one-third of all drunk-driving-related fatalities occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday season. It’s one of law enforcement’s busiest times when it comes to DUI checkpoints, as they seek to prevent more alcohol-related accidents by arresting impaired drivers.
Finishing the year by losing your driver’s license — or your life — is not what anybody wants. Since alcohol tends to flow freely this time of year, it’s a good idea to take steps to make sure that you, a friend, or a family member doesn’t end up with a DUI charge to go along with a Tupperware full of leftovers. Let’s take a look at how making a plan ahead of the holiday can ensure an overfull belly is the worst thing you suffer this Thanksgiving.
Give Thanks for the Responsible Ones
Whether your Thanksgiving is a small gathering or one that stuffs a house full to bursting, it’s important to make sure sober drivers are available for those who aren’t staying the night. Having a designated driver for each vehicle that’s heading back on the roads should be a necessity, not an option. Your family, friends, and loved ones deserve this consideration.
Many cities and towns will protect against drunk driving during the Thanksgiving season by setting up DUI checkpoints. During these stops, police officers will check drivers for signs of intoxication. If they suspect someone of driving while impaired (DWI), they can request that the driver take either a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer test to check blood alcohol content (BAC).
DUI checkpoints are illegal in 12 states. Where permitted, they must follow specific rules to be considered legal. This means that police should develop some sort of neutral criteria for determining which drivers they stop.
The increase in vigilance is not likely to be limited to Thanksgiving Day itself. Given that the majority of college students travel home for the break, the night before Thanksgiving is characterized by local bars being packed, in addition to friends drinking at someone’s house. It’s a good idea to avoid driving on that Wednesday night, if possible.
Do Your Job and Know Your Limits
If you’re a designated driver (thank you!), understand the responsibility that comes with the role. Whether you’ll be transporting friends, family, or anyone else, their lives are literally in your hands. In addition to making sure you’re not under the influence, you’ll need to be on top of your driving game to counter the increase in the impaired driving of others you may encounter on the way home.
The best solution is not to drink any alcohol at all if driving is in your future. If you must drink, be aware of both your limits and how long it’ll be until you’re behind the wheel. Nothing reduces the effect of booze on your driving ability except time. Buzzed driving is drunk driving, and any impairment to your driving ability can result in a license suspension or much, much worse.
Remember that your passengers may not be in full control of their faculties if they’ve been drinking. Check to ensure they’re wearing their seatbelts, and don’t hesitate to pull over if they’re being too distracting.
Leave the Keys and Let Someone Else Do the Driving
So, your best-laid plans to stay sober somehow got tripped up, and now you’re in no shape to drive. If staying put isn’t an option, take advantage of the world we live in. Depending on your location, public transportation, such as buses and subways, is a cheap and safe way to get where you need to go. Check the availability, as most will be on a reduced holiday schedule.
Taxis and rideshare services are another method to keep you from making a large mistake. While Uber or Lyft may have holiday surge pricing in effect for your ride home, it’s paltry compared to the legal fees associated with hiring a DUI attorney after an arrest. Just check to make sure your new driver is okay to operate a moving vehicle as well.
These are also good options for when someone you don’t think should be driving tries to do so. The car can always be picked up tomorrow. Let a sober driver get them home.
Lower Your Exposure
The later it is, the higher the chances that a vehicle you encounter on the roads is being piloted by a candidate for a DUI conviction. When bars close for the evening, some people who shouldn’t get behind a wheel are going to do so anyway. While they may be heading for jail time, they might send you to a hospital as collateral damage.
This also applies if you’re starting to feel yourself getting tired. Sleep deprivation has many of the same negative effects as inebriation, so don’t be afraid to be the “party pooper” and gather your passengers if you feel yourself starting to fade.
Help Them Do Their Job
Being a designated driver is already a good deed, but don’t be afraid to take things a step further. If you see someone driving erratically and suspect they might be impaired, contact the local police and report the incident. Keep your own safety paramount by maintaining a safe distance. It’s great if you can identify the make, model, and color of the vehicle, but the license plate digits are the most important information you can supply.
Unless you have hands-free calling in your vehicle, either have a passenger contact the police or pull over to the side of the road before calling. Don’t try to stop the other driver yourself.
If Mistakes Are Made
Nobody is perfect, and not all advice is heeded. If your Thanksgiving cornucopia includes a DUI charge, just about every aspect of your life is going to be affected. DUI laws vary between states, and not all DUI arrests are legal. In any case, getting legal advice is a good move. Just like having your turkey cooked by someone who knows what they’re doing, getting an experienced DUI lawyer for any drunk driving charge should be a priority.
Related Resources:
- Serving Alcohol and Social Host Liability (FindLaw’s Accident and Injury Law)
- DUI Law (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- When Are Bars Liable for Overserving Alcohol? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
