Holiday accidents are preventable. During the holidays, there are more crashes than any other time, partly because some equate celebrating with alcohol. Sure, there’s eggnog at holiday parties, maybe there’s a little rum in that drink, and your friend only had one. That’s not much alcohol, right? Wrong. There’s still enough in that one drink to impair your friend’s driving.

Holiday Drinking and Driving Statistics from Canada

According to statistics provided by the Ontario Provincial Police, impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in all of Canada. In 2007, during the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) campaign that took place for the five weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve, police stopped 861,587 cars and trucks.
- 342 people were charged under the Criminal Code with crimes relating to drinking and driving.
- 869 12-hour driver’s license suspensions were issued.
- 375 drivers lost their driving privileges for 90 days.

More Drinking and Driving Statistics

According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 12,998 people lost their lives in car crashes where drinking and driving was a factor.
In the United States, the number of fatalities related to drinking and driving went down in 32 states in 2007.
The number of motorcycle operators who were charged with alcohol-related offenses increased in 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Charges were up by 10 percent that year. This was the only category of driver where the numbers were up.

The following statistics were provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving:
In 2007, 12,998 people died in alcohol-related crashes.
Someone is killed by a drunk driver once every 40 minutes, on average.
Approximately three out of every 10 people will be involved in a car crash where alcohol is a factor at some point during their lives.
More than 1.46 million people were arrested in 2006 for DUI (Driving Under the Influence or Alcohol or Narcotics).
More than 500,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents where alcohol was a factor; this works out to one person being hurt about every minute.

The importance of staying safe during the holiday season is obvious when you look at the statistics on holiday accidents. During the holidays in 2002, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, alcohol related crashes killed 1,561 people. That’s a significant percent of people killed in all crashes. Don’t want your friend to become a statistic? Then be firm and make sure they don’t drive themselves home or wander home alone.

How to claim compensation

Legal Advice Helpline can help you if you decide to claim after an accident on holiday. Our solicitors have a wealth of experience in cases involving accidents occurring on holiday abroad.