Thanksgiving travel this year will continue the
trend of the last few years, beating the previous year’s numbers in terms of
number of travelers. About 42 million
nationwide will hit the road for Thanksgiving this year. Well over one million from Northern Virginia
and Washington, D.C. will take to the area highways for travel next week. With roads and highways jam-packed with
millions of cars, trucks, and buses, accidents will occur in large
numbers. Unfortunately, some of these
accidents will result in serious
injuries and even fatalities. The
National Safety Council estimates 433 deaths and more than 50,000 serious
injuries occurring as a result of traffic accidents. The group cites the combination of high
traffic volume and the increase in drinking and driving around holiday time as the
cause for the startling predictions. The
group hopes that by making people aware of the dangers on the roads next week
for holiday travel that they will save some lives.
Some
ways to prevent fatalities in auto accidents include wearing your seatbelt at
all times, driving the speed limit, driving sober, and driving without any
distractions (i.e. cell phones, make up, and radios). Numerous reports this year have shown that
deadly car accidents are significantly higher than normal due to speeding and
alcohol. It is not surprising that New Year’s
tops the list for the most fatal car accidents, but Thanksgiving is near the
top of the list as well. The Wednesday night
before Thanksgiving is an extremely busy night at bars for teenagers and young
adults who are reconnecting with high school and college friends. Always remember to drive sober and never
drink and drive. About one-third of all
fatal accidents that occur around Thanksgiving are attributed to alcohol.
If you or a family
member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Virginia and/or were involved in a
deadly accident as a result, please feel free to contact our office at (703) 916-1227 and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation at our
office in Vienna or
throughout Virginia, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/
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