Alcohol can be a problem all year ‘round, but its cultural consequences tend to increase in the summer. A long-term review of car crash trends shows that the summer months, especially the week around summer holidays, are some of the most dangerous times for drunk driving crashes.
The week leading up to the 4th of July and Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are frequently among the most dangerous days in terms of fatal drunk driving crashes. As someone driving on the Missouri roads, an awareness of safety trends helps you better protect yourself from crashes caused by other drivers.
As someone who occasionally enjoys going out for a few drinks, understanding seasonal risk factors can help you avoid getting swept up in law enforcement efforts as well.
Holiday risks can lead to more police on the roads and sobriety checkpoints
Trying to deter drunk driving requires the constant application of pressure to keep people from putting personal convenience above public safety. Applying additional pressure by putting more officers out on the road or conducting sobriety checkpoints makes the most sense when the risk for drunk driving is at its highest.
Although police officers are always watching for the signs of impairment at the wheel, there may be more concerted efforts around summer holidays because of the strong association with drunk driving fatalities. There could be more on-duty officers patrolling traffic or even a roadblock where officers check drivers for sobriety.
Those intending to go out and celebrate around the holidays would be wise to make alternate plans for transportation to protect themselves from getting caught in aggressive enforcement efforts.
How you get arrested affects your defense options
The best way to respond to an impaired driving arrest will depend on the circumstances. Someone arrested during a standard traffic stop has different rights than someone arrested during a sobriety checkpoint or other large-scale enforcement effort.
Review of everything from the evidence collected by police to your personal driving record can help determine the best way to fight back against pending impaired driving charges.