The DWI holiday season has begun

The New Hampshire Holiday DWI Season Has Begun

Next week is Thanksgiving, and this is the week that formally kicks off the holiday season, which lasts through the New Year. The holiday season is generally full of travel and holiday parties as thousands of New Hampshire residents celebrate festivities with family members and friends. This time period is also classified as “DUI Season” in New Hampshire, with DUI arrests reaching a high point for the calendar year. 

In the law enforcement community, Thanksgiving Eve is often referred to as “Black Wednesday”. It is considered the unofficial busiest bar night of the calendar year. Coincidentally, it is also the single busiest night for police officers when it comes to making DWI arrests. Furthermore, nationwide, Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest weekend of the year for roadways in terms of traffic volume. More than 90% of Americans who travel this weekend will be doing so by car. The sheer volume of traffic, combined with the number of individuals who drink, can produce deadly results.

Traffic data released by the federal government demonstrates that average daily death toll from alcohol related accidents is significantly higher during the holiday season than at any other time during the year. Per data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, between the years 2001-2005, there was a daily average of 36 deaths in the United States that were directly related to accidents caused by impaired motorists. During the Christmas period, this daily averaged climbed to 45 deaths, and over the New Year’s holiday, it reached an average of 54 deaths each day.

A similar report showed that, between the years of 1998 and 2008, U.S. highways saw an average of 572 deaths each year during the Thanksgiving season. This established the Thanksgiving weekend as the single most deadly four day weekend on American highways. 36% of these reported deaths were caused by alcohol impaired motorists, which are approximately 51 deaths each day. In addition to drunk motorists, the high number of deaths was also attributed to sleepy/tired motorists and speeding.

Be smart this holiday season. While we all want to enjoy the season to its fullest, precautions should be taken to ensure that our lives, and the lives of those we love, in unnecessary danger.

In the unfortunate event that you have been arrested for a DWI in the state of New Hampshire, it is imperative that you retain legal counsel. Contact one of our firm’s DWI lawyers today. Your initial consultation is free, and we will conduct a thorough analysis of your case and recommend an appropriate course of action. Mistakes do happen, but it does not have to ruin your entire holiday season this year.