Alcohol & Holidays, Don’t Mix

Holidays are a time when we all get together with family and close friends to celebrate and enjoy the blessings of life and simply to have a good time and some good honest fun. Unfortunately though for many, the holidays have become a grim reminder of a tragic accident that took the life of a loved one and destroyed the life of an entire family. It’s a shocking and sad but honest reality.

Each year during the holidays American roads, streets and highways become deadlier than any other time of the year. Hundreds die each year at holiday times due to alcohol related car crashes and the 4th of July has become the infamous Number #1 holiday death leader.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost always, more people die on the 4th of July because of alcohol related car crashes than any other American holiday. This makes the 4th of July the deadliest holiday of the year for car crashes, even more deadly than New Year’s Day.

According to the NHTSA the 4th of July has almost always been the leading holiday on this list for over twenty-five years. And the majority of those killed during the 4th of July and all the other holidays on the NHTSA Holiday Death Report are alcohol related. The NTHSA statistics prove on average that approximately half of all fatal automobile accidents on the 4th of July and other holidays are alcohol related accidents.

The NHTSA reported that in the summer of 2008 over a 3 day 4th of July weekend 491 people died from automobile accidents. Almost half that number or 43 percent of them died because of alcohol-impaired driving. 423 people died that very same year in the 4 days surrounding New Year’s Day and 41 percent of those people died because alcohol was involved.

2008 NHTSA Holiday Death Report

Holiday Number of Deaths Percentage of Alcohol Related Deaths

● 4th of July- 491 43%

● New Years – 423 41%

● Memorial Day- 425 41%

● Labor Day- 487 40%

● Thanksgiving- 502 36%

● Christmas- 420 34%

2009 NHTSA Holiday Death Report

Holiday Number of Deaths Percentage of Alcohol Related Deaths

● 4th of July- 410 40%

● New Years – 468 40%

● Memorial Day- 473 42%

● Labor Day- 360 38%

● Thanksgiving- 411 34%

● Christmas- 262 37%

DUI (Driving Under the Influence) in Georgia

“Many states continue to step up their efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads, but the numbers tell us we have to do more” said the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Drunk driving is a major public safety threat that still claims thousands of lives every year.”

It is extremely important that people understand that when you drive under the influence of alcohol or any drugs you are putting yourself, your family friends and loved ones and the general public at serious risk of injury and death. Driving under the influence is an irresponsible act and shows a total disregard for the lives of others. Besides, DUI of alcohol can cost you in fines, insurance rates and penalties such as a suspended or revoked licenses or even jail time.

DUI Conviction #1

According to the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles (GA.DMV) a person convicted of DUI for the first time will be charged with a misdemeanor and will be subject to receiving the following punishments; a $300 to $1,000 fine, they can be sent to prison for 10 days to 12 months, (the judge may suspend the sentence, give the person a stay of execution, or probation of up to twelve months). If the person’s Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) registers 0.08 or more then they will have to serve a minimum of 24 hours in jail. Also, first DUI offenders can receive 40 hours of community service. If the BAC registers under 0.08 you still can be given a DUI charge but the judge may not be as harsh. All those convicted of DUI in the state of Georgia must complete a mandatory “Risk Reduction Program”. You may receive time served and/or get your license suspended for a year.

DUI Conviction #2

A DUI conviction within 5 years of your first offense will be a misdemeanor as well but the fines and penalties will increase. This time around you will be given a $600 to $1,000 fine and ninety days to 12 months in prison and you have to speed at least 72 hours behind bars. You have to do a minimum of 30 days of community service and of course complete the “Risk Reduction Program”. You have to undergo a clinical evaluation to determine whether or not you need an alcohol treatment program. If you do need treatment then your sentence will include completing the treatment program. Second DUI offenders can receive twelve months of probation and time served and suspension of their license for 3 years.

DUI Conviction #3

If you are stupid enough to further risk your life and the lives of others for a third time you will be charged with a “high and aggravated” misdemeanor. Your fines will balloon to $1,000 to $5,000 dollars and you will receive a “Mandatory Prison Sentence” of 120 days to 12 months and you will have to spend at least 15 days in jail no questions asked. You will be given a minimum of 30 days of community service and you will still have to complete the mandatory “Risk Reduction Program”, undergo a clinical evaluation and complete an alcohol treatment program. You can get 12 months on probation and time served and you will lose your license for 5 years. (http://www.dmv.org/ga-georgia/automotive-law/dui.php)

Weekend Drivers

The fact that most major holidays often fall on the weekend doesn’t make the statistics about DUI fatalities any easier to stomach. Studies have consistently revealed that more people are killed in DUI motor vehicle accidents at night and on the weekend. An NHTSA report found that in just in 2008 58 percent of drivers and motorcycle riders were killed in DUI accidents and alcohol-related accidents that happened at night and over the weekend. Furthermore, the study found that most motor vehicle accident deaths (night or day, weekend or holiday) happen on “two-lane roads”. The study went on to say that more people die while driving in rain than in the snow.

In conclusion, the evidence should more than convince you. Alcohol and Holidays don’t mix well. Be responsible and be safe. Contact Narconon for more information.