Alcohol is a part of many holiday celebrations. Even drivers, who are careful to monitor alcohol intake before driving during other times of year, may relax personal rules during holidays. The consequences can be disastrous for the drunk driver and for innocent accident victims.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 830 people were killed in drunk-driving accidents during December 2012. Twenty-six died on Christmas Day. By comparison, Massachusetts recorded 123 alcohol-related fatalities in all of 2012.
During 2014, nearly 200 law enforcement agencies throughout Massachusetts agreed to take part in a nationwide Christmastime campaign. The Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over effort was aimed at stopping drunk drivers before they could cause motor vehicle accidents. Police agencies were offered federal grant money to participate.
Police take time they’d probably rather spend with family members, often working in bitterly cold or snowy conditions, to prevent tragedies. Sobriety checkpoints are set up and patrols are increased to guarantee a little added safety for holiday travelers. Offenders are arrested and when convicted, may suffer serious consequences like fees, fines, a loss of driving privileges and jail time.
No matter how great personal penalties are, a drunk driver’s punishment is nothing compared to the pain and suffering of accident victims and their families. Drunk-driving crashes often result in serious injuries, enormous medical expenses and wage losses threatening a family’s long-term security.
Some victims recover, while others suffer permanent disabilities or die. Negligent and reckless parties responsible for these unnecessary losses can be held accountable in criminal and civil courts.
Source: The Enterprise, “Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over Campaign Underway” Michael J. Rausch, Dec. 10, 2014