The good news is that education is working. DUI arrests, accidents and fatalities are generally down across the country. Last year, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, roughly 1,200 accident fatalities were recorded nationally during the holiday period, down about 20% from just 10 years ago. About 40% of those accidents involved alcohol. More than 125,000 people were injured in accidents.

In this Drunk Drivers Rights guide we outline the best way for you to avoid being a drunk driving statistic this holiday season.

About 45,000 DUI arrests occur during a typical Thanksgiving week and about the same number on New Year’s Eve and Day. This is about 3 times the average numbers for non-holiday periods.

Don’t Be a Holiday Drunk Driving Statistic

Here are a list of ways to avoid being arrested for DUI or getting into a traffic accident during the holiday season.

• Don’t drive if you’ve had a significant amount to drink, or simply don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t rely on the one drink per hour rule…you may metabolize alcohol more slowly than most.
• Get a ride from someone who doesn’t drink or only drinks moderately.
• Hold your holiday party at a hotel and get a room so you don’t have to drive.
• Don’t drink the punch – you don’t know how heavily its spiked.
• Call a taxi or a friend for a ride if you’ve had too much to drink.
• Trust a friend if they tell you that you’ve had too much to drink and shouldn’t drive.
• Host the party at your house and keep an eye out for guests who are intoxicated. Don’t let them drive.
• Be sure to eat a filling meal before drinking, and then limit the number of drinks you have.
• Don’t drink and drive if you’re taking medication that makes you drowsy, such as narcotic pain medication or allergy medication.
• Get some friends together and rent a limousine for transportation.
• Stay off the roads between the peak period of 5-7 p.m. on Thanksgiving and midnight to 3 a.m. on New Year’s when the most drunk drivers are on the road.

When or if you are stopped at a checkpoint there are several different types of tests for drunk driving that the police may ask you to perform. Your best bet is to cooperate, but you do have the right to refuse to perform the tests. Just know that the police also have the right to arrest you and will follow local state laws and federal laws that will most likely lead to you being arrested.

If you do end up getting busted for drunk driving, the very first thing you should do is contact a dui attorney to discuss your case. They will be able to give you the best advice and let you know what your next steps should be.

You may also want to review our page about the dangers of drinking and driving so you can get help with your drinking problem and prevent the likelihood that you (or someone with you) will become a statistic!