RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With New Year’s celebrations just days away, safety officials are urging drivers to avoid the dangers of drunk driving.
The period between Christmas and New Year’s often sees a spike in alcohol-related traffic fatalities, and Virginia law enforcement is taking action to prevent these tragedies.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving accounts for 31% of traffic deaths annually, but that figure rises to nearly 40% during the holiday season.
Last year, Henrico County saw an 8% increase in drunk driving deaths, while Chesterfield County experienced a 25% increase — equating to an average of one fatality per day.
“Even if you say, ‘I’m not going out for New Year’s’ or ‘I don’t drink’… there’s still a role we can all play,” said Kurt Erickson, the director of Virginia’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
The consequences of drunk driving can be far-reaching. Erickson highlighted to 8News the randomness of its impact.