A DUI on Thanksgiving can quickly ruin your holiday, including costly fines, time-consuming license suspensions, and even criminal charges.
The Pennsylvania DUI Lawyers at Kellis Law Firm want you to have a safe, DUI-free holiday. Here are some safe practices and protocols to help you avoid a Thanksgiving DUI, but if you have been charged with a DUI, call us today at (215) 977-4183 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
Pennsylvania Thanksgiving DUI Statistics
The Pennsylvania State Police track the number of DUI arrests and accidents across the state. Concerning car accident statistics note that between November 24-28 of 2021 (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to Sunday after Thanksgiving–only a 5-day period), the PSP investigated 1,155 crashes–91 of those accidents were alcohol-related, 2 were alcohol-related fatal crashes (of the 5 total fatal collisions), and 225 persons were injured in total. During this same period, they made 533 DUI arrests.
| 2021 | |
| Total Accidents | 1,155 |
| Alcohol-Related Accidents | 91 |
| Fatal Accidents | 5 |
| Alcohol-Related Fatalities | 2 |
| DUI Arrests | 533 |
| Injuries | 225 |
The PSP aggressively target DUIs given the very real danger that drunk driving creates on the roads for everyone, not just for the drunk driver. They’re hopeful that the strict enforcement of traffic laws will deter such dangerous behavior.
Tips for staying safe on Thanksgiving
It’s quite normal that Thanksgiving meals and events will include alcoholic beverages of some sort because you’re gathering and celebrating with family, plus football and beer drinking seem to go hand-in-hand.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy Thanksgiving but prevent a costly DUI charge and to help keep you and your family safe.
Don’t drink and drive
The most obvious way to avoid a DUI is by not drinking and driving at all. This can be accomplished by hosting Thanksgiving at your home, by going to a relative’s where you can stay the night, or by having lodging closeby and using the following tips to get to-and-from the holiday celebration.
Line up a designated driver before starting to drink
It’s no secret that alcohol impairs one’s decision-making abilities, and the more intoxicated they become, the less likely they are to make safe decisions. To avoid making a poor decision by driving while intoxicated, line up a designated driver before you begin drinking. It might even be helpful to give them your keys so that you can’t change your mind later after you’ve had some drinks.
Remember rideshare options
Rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft have made it much easier to get transportation on a holiday when previously you might’ve been limited to taxis, especially if there weren’t any taxis in your area. These apps allow you to set a specific pickup time and specify your dropoff location so that it’s even easier for you to get home safely.
Connect with a DUI lawyer today
Although these tips can help you avoid a DUI, there will be situations where unwise decisions are made or improper charges are filed–that’s when you need the help of a Pennsylvania DUI lawyer from Kellis Law Firm. We will challenge the case against you at every step of the way, finding and exploiting the prosecution’s weaknesses and faults in your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation by calling (215) 977-4183.