Mt. Juliet and Lebanon TN
Did you know that the night before Thanksgiving sees more DUI accidents than any other night of the year? Thanksgiving Eve is so deadly on the roads that law enforcement personnel often call it “Black Wednesday.” Your Nashville DUI attorney Yancy Belcher wants to explore this phenomenon in this article.
DUI deaths go up during the holidays
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, approximately 36 deaths occur each day on the highways and roads of the United States. During the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, that average jumps to 45 deaths per day.
This increase can be attributed to several different factors:
- First, the fact many people drink at holiday celebrations.
- Second, people may be unaware of the alcohol content in their seasonal drinks.
- Third, there are more people on the roads around Thanksgiving, increasing the overall probability of an accident.
- Fourth, it’s wintertime, meaning a higher likelihood that roads will become slick, icy, or otherwise dangerous.
People are likely to party on Thanksgiving Eve
Certain holidays have become associated with drinking: St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and… Thanksgiving Eve? It’s true. Most people don’t work on Thanksgiving, and people returning home have the chance to reunite with old friends and family. For these reasons, you can see why many bars and other establishments that serve alcohol have found that the night before Thanksgiving can be their biggest night of the year, especially among 20-somethings.
More people that are drinking means a greater chance of drunk drivers, increasing deaths as a result.
DUI Prevention
The NHTSA sponsors two campaigns each holiday season looking to curtail the prevalence of drunk driving and limit the number of DUI deaths. These campaigns are “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving,” an educational campaign that runs from December 1-11; and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” which runs from Dec. 12 through New Year’s Day and consists of increased vigilance on the road, including no-refusal sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols.
Meanwhile, each person can take steps to be responsible through the holiday season:
- When attending a holiday party, if you plan to drink, determine a designated driver before the event.
- When you arrive at the party, turn over your keys to the host or already have arrangements to spend the night either at the party or a nearby hotel.
- Leave early. Drunk drivers are most likely to be on the road between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m.
- Remember always to buckle up and practice defensive driving.
DUI Lawyer in Nashville
Yancy Belcher has been a practicing lawyer in Middle Tennessee for more than 20 years. He specializes in DUI law. We realize that responsible drivers can be arrested for a DUI violation. In the state of Tennessee, even first-time offenders face a mandatory jail sentence. Yancy Belcher can defend your rights and will investigate your entire case, including whether the arresting officer had probable cause to make a traffic stop or followed all the correct procedures. Remember, even in a DUI case that you are innocent until proven guilty. That’s why you should hire an experienced DUI attorney in Nashville like Yancy Belcher to represent you.
We hope that everyone stays safe this holiday season and make good choices when driving. However, if you or someone you care about is arrested on DUI charges in the Nashville area, including Hermitage and Mt. Juliet, then contact the Law Office of Yancy Belcher today by calling (615) 773-2889 to schedule a free consultation.
