There are so many parties over the holiday season, from the office Christmas party, to family gatherings culminating in the New Years Eve festivities that it can be tempting to drink and drive. Police are out in force over the holidays and are extra vigilant because of this. It’s not worth it!

On average in 2010, 31 percent of highway fatalities were caused by drunk driving. However, this number spikes dramatically over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays too:

Christmas Holiday (includes Christmas Eve and the surrounding holiday weekend)

2010: 96 people killed (37 percent of highway deaths)
2009: 95 people killed (36 percent of highway deaths)
2008: 138 people killed (32 percent of highway deaths)

New Year’s Holiday (includes the holiday weekend surrounding New Year’s Eve)

2010: 143 people killed (48 percent of highway deaths)
2009: 185 people killed (40 percent of highway deaths)
2008: 175 people killed (41 percent of highway deaths)

In addition, New Year’s Day is especially dangerous, with 57 percent of all traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver in 2010.

During the New Year’s period, between 2007 and 2011, an estimated 42% of traffic fatalities were the result of drinking and driving. On Christmas, just 35% of accidents were the result of drinking and driving, less than any of the major six holidays. Winter weather also plays a role in holiday accidents. Believe it or not when we have severe winter weather the number goes down because people are less likely to travel.

Some numbers to think about:

Christmas Day
> Estimated fatalities: 105
> Deaths prevented by seatbelts: 38

According to AAA estimates, holiday travel at Christmas will increase this holiday season for the fifth year in a row. About 30% of Americans are expected to travel during this time. From the afternoon of Christmas Eve through Christmas Day, estimates show that there will be 105 deaths and an additional 11,200 severe injuries in traffic accidents. This is significantly lower than in previous years. Last year, there were 351 fatalities. This decline is largely because Christmas falls in the middle of the week and the traveling period is significantly shorter than usual. The worst Christmas in recent history was in 2001, when 575 people were killed.

New Year’s Day

> Estimated fatalities: 156
> Deaths prevented by seatbelts: 57

People are much more likely to drink and drive around January 1 than during any other major holiday. Nearly half of all 286 traffic fatalities during the New Year’s travel period in 2010 were alcohol related. Between 2007 and 2011, alcohol accounted for 42% of all traffic deaths during the holiday. By comparison, during Christmas, alcohol was a factor in just 35% of fatalities. The 2010 New Year’s period represented a low point for fatalities, at just 286. Traffic deaths ticked up to 348 by 2012. However, since the upcoming New Year’s day — like Christmas — falls in the middle of the week, the total travel period for the holiday is shorter, the estimated 156 fatalities would be the lowest in some time. Safety is another reason the number of fatalities is projected to be so low, as the NSC estimates that 57 lives will saved by seat belts during the holiday.

So don’t drink and drive and as always DRIVE SAFE!!!!