Why Do Car Accidents Spike on New Years?

 Posted on December 31, 2019 in Auto Accidents

As December comes to a close, we reflect on the previous year and look forward to the fresh start that a new year brings. In this century, we celebrate our second decade, so there is bound to be extra excitement as we enter 2020. The new year brings resolutions and champagne toasts, but unfortunately, new years eve and day are a couple of the most dangerous times to be on the road and car accidents spike.

One of the biggest contributions to this spike is drunk driving. Crashes having to do with alcohol or drugs increase 71% compared to an average weekend from 6:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 6:00 a.m. on New Years Day. Like it's winter holiday counterparts, New Years encourages drinking alcohol. Many people top off at midnight with a glass of champagne. While that one glass of champagne would likely keep someone within the legal limit to drive, it is the drinks before and after that can create a problem.

What Is Considered Drunk Driving?

Across the United States, the legal limit to drive after consuming alcohol is 0.08%. If a person is caught with a higher concentration of alcohol in their system, they will be arrested and potentially charged with a DUI. This is because anything higher than 0.08% is considered too dangerous for a person to be driving a car. Alcohol affects decision making and reaction times, which can contribute to the cause of an auto accident.

An issue with seasonal social drinking is that people may not know their limits. For an average person, one drink is considered one glass of wine, a standard beer, or a shot of hard liquor. Each of these will affect a person differently depending on their biological sex, weight, and food intake. It is easy to get carried away with celebrating a new year, and not realize how much alcohol was consumed before getting in the car.

The age group most likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident are 21-24-year-olds. Today, there are many alternatives to getting home after a night of drinking, no matter how old you are. Rideshares and public transportation are great alternatives to getting behind the wheel after the clock strikes midnight.

Contact a Kane County Car Accident Attorney

While the new year is a start for many, plans for 2020 can be halted by the trauma caused by a car accident. Drinking and driving is considered negligent, so if you have been hit by a drunk driver, contact an experienced Aurora car accident lawyer today. Your pain and suffering caused by a drunk driver may be able to be financially compensated. Call our office at 630-907-0909 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://drivingschool.net/new-years-driving-statistics-facts/

https://www.madd.org/statistics/