As New Year’s approaches, New Yorkers should take extra precautions to guard against drunk driving accidents.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s every year New York residents can face an increased risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident. This news should not be a shock to most people as every year public campaigns are launched to try and raise awareness about this risk and increase safety for all people.
When looking at records to get a better idea about the dangers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a good view by comparing 25 days not considered to be holidays in December to those days considered to be holidays in December for the period running from 2001 to 2005. Over the days not considered to be holidays, the NHTSA notes that 28 percent of all deaths from
car accidents were affected by alcohol. Over the days considered to be holidays, that percentage jumped to a total of 40 percent of all accident fatalities being influenced by the presence of alcohol.
The 2005 December period gives an even more in-depth view into this situation. During the days attributed to the New Year’s holiday that year an average of 55 people were killed in drunk driving accidents every day. That compares to 46 people per day over the Christmas holiday days and 34 people per day over the remaining days not attributed to a specific major holiday.
The view in New York
When looking at the risk in New York, Mothers Against Drunk Driving records show that 2012 had a 4.9 percent jump in the number of people killed in drunk driving accidents over the prior year. A total of 344 people died in the state of New York in
accidents involving motor vehicles operated by impaired drivers, representing a total of 29 percent of all vehicular fatalities in the state that year.
Around New York City, the NHTSA records show the dangers associated with drinking and driving all too clearly. Data from 2012 includes the following:
- In Bronx County, nine out of 51 vehicular fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents.
- In Kings County, 19 out of 73 vehicular fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents.
- In Queens County, 25 out of 81 vehicular fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents.
- In Nassau County, 19 out of 93 vehicular fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents.
- In New York County, 12 out of 43 vehicular fatalities resulted from drunk driving accidents.
These numbers make it all too easy to see the risks that drunk drivers pose to residents in New York.
What can be done?
Because eliminating drunk driving accidents may never be possible, it is imperative that people be willing to seek legal help in the wake of such incidents. Contacting an attorney is the best way to secure the level of compensation deserved in these times.