With Thanksgiving upon us and Christmas just around the corner, millions of Americans will hit the road to visit friends and family. While we all stay tuned to hear the latest on traffic advisories, flight cancellations, and delays in mass transit, most of us are blissfully unaware of the fact that holidays are especially dangerous for American drivers.
Dangerous Holidays for American Drivers
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are among the most dangerous holidays for drivers. Why? There are several reasons why holiday driving can be more dangerous. Consider the following examples:
- More cars on the roadway, especially interstates.
- People tend to be more hurried around the holidays.
- During the holiday season (winter months) there is a greater chance of rain, sleet, or snow making travel more dangerous.
- Drivers traveling long distances may be fatigued.
- During many holiday seasons, alcohol consumption increases, and with it, the number of drunk drivers on the road.
There are numerous reasons why auto accidents occur, and this is just an example of some factors that may increase danger on the roadway.
Auto Accident Statistics for Holiday Drivers
Here are some statistics for holiday drivers that may help you be more aware, and better prepared, as you travel this year:
- In 2014, AAA estimated that 46.3 million Americans took to the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- In 2010-2011, Progressive reported a double in the number of claims on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving).
- During December, auto accident claims increase by as much as 20 percent over the rest of the year.
- Over the Christmas holiday, 30 percent of Americans are expected to travel, with many choosing to drive.
- Almost half of all fatal auto accidents over the New Year’s holiday are related to drinking and driving.
The holiday season is generally broken into a set number of hours encompassing the days before and after the actual holiday. In 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported the following fatal accident statistics for major holidays:
- Thanksgiving (102 hours) – 33 accidents resulted in 41 fatalities
- Christmas (78 hours) – 34 accidents resulted in 37 fatalities
- New Year’s (78 hours) – 30 accidents resulted in 32 fatalities
When Negligence Harms Your Family
When you travel on Texas roadways, you rely on yourself and other drivers to obey the law and behave in a safe manner. Unfortunately, that does not always happen, and the results can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Daic Law today to discuss your case. Call 877-893-6040, or email us at info@daiclaw.com for a free consultation.