Next week is Thanksgiving, and with the advent of the holiday season, the public attention often turns to DUI prevention. Law enforcement will conductholiday checkpoints to "crack down" on drunk or impaired driving. Public service announcements about the importance of finding a designated driverwill flood television and social media. Agencies such as AAA will conduct "tipsy tow" and other sober ride arrangements to try to prevent holiday DUI.
These are all good measures, and all important for trying to eliminate drunk driving accidents during the holiday season. Obviously, with an increase inparties and get-togethers, there will be an increase in the potential for drunk driving accidents. But are Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays actuallythe deadliest days on Oklahoma roads?
Not according to statistics from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
The agency considers the "Thanksgiving holiday" to run from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night (Black Wednesday) through midnight Sunday. During this time spanin 2013, there were 8 fatal crashes involving 10 deaths on Oklahoma roads. Three of those crashes were alcohol-related, resulting in 5 deaths. These10 total fatalities were a drop from 12 the previous year, and last year, the number declined again. There were 8 traffic fatalities over the Thanksgivingholiday in 2014.
Over the Christmas holiday, spanning 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and running through midnight on Sunday, December 28, there were only 3 fatalities--up onefrom 2013.
With 8 fatalities last year, Thanksgiving was one of the deadliest holidays on Oklahoma roads, but not the deadliest. Compare holidays and associated trafficfatalities in Oklahoma in 2014:
Regardless of the time of year, drinking and driving is always dangerous.Begin making plans now to ensure that you and your loved ones have a safe andsober ride home from any parties or gatherings you may attend.
Learn more about Oklahoma DUI accidents here, or click herefor more information about DUI defense.
