Driving under the influence cases rise during the holiday season

By: By Sen. Williams | SCNow
Published: December 17, 2009

While it is the season to eat, drink and be merry, please think before getting behind the wheel of a car after having too many drinks. After drinking, judgment is impaired; many think they can handle it, which is why there are so many DUI cases during the holiday season. More DUI arrests occur during the holidays than at any other time of the year. As of December 7, 420 of the 843 reported traffic fatalities in South Carolina have been DUI-related – nearly 50 percent. That’s compared to all of last year in which 43 percent of traffic fatalities – 463 of 1,066 – were DUI-related.

Obviously, increased pressures and stress are often placed on many people during the holiday season. A drink or two to relax may ease the stresses, but the chances of getting arrested for a DUI should give you pause. Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk your life or someone else’s, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant and not the way you would want to spend your holiday season.

Just remember that December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month. The holiday season is one of the busiest on our nation’s roadways and also one of the most dangerous due to the high incidence of drug and alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Before you celebrate, designate a sober driver. If you cannot drive responsibly, for any reason, do not get behind the wheel. Your life and the lives of others depend on your judgment. Enjoy the holiday season, but please enjoy it safely.

Contact Sen. Williams at his Columbia office located at 602 Gressette Office Building at (803) 212-6008 or by fax at (803) 212-6011. His district office is located at 137 Airport Road, Suite J, Mullins, SC 29574, the phone number is (843) 423-8237 and the fax number is (843) 431-6049 or email WILLIAMSK@scsenate.org.

Sen. Williams’ business phone is (843) 423-3904.