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The Thanksgiving tradition is thought to have originated in 1621 by the Pilgrims, and it has been celebrated every fourth Thursday of November since Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday in 1863.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. It is a time when families and friends join together to give thanks and enjoy one another’s company. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of a dangerous season and is one of the most dangerous times to be on the road. Many people make poor decisions to drink and drive during this long four-day weekend.

According to BACtrack, the manufacturer of the breathalyzer,

“The most traveled holiday period of the year is Thanksgiving weekend, and DUI arrests are at their highest between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year’s weekend. Thanksgiving Eve is even referred to as “Black Wednesday,” as it may be the busiest night of the year for bars. Social binge drinking (consumption of a high volume of alcohol in a short period of time) is also common at this time of year.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that approximately 4 out of every 10 fatal accidents on Thanksgiving weekend are caused by drunk drivers. Drunk-driving crashes killed more than 800 people over the long weekend (6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday) from 2012 to 2016, according to published statistics. 

The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) national president Colleen Sheehey-Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in a teen drunk and drugged crash, said, Thanksgiving is a time for families and tradition, and each of us can do our part to prevent these 100 percent preventable tragedies. Please take advantage of the many options for getting home safely — a designated, non-drinking driver, rideshare, taxi or public transportation.”

MADD and NHTSA have joined together to urge everyone to “Make It to the Table: Don’t Drink and Drive this Thanksgiving.” Tie One On For Safety© was started in 1986 and is, "...MADD's longest running and most visible public awareness project. The name Tie One on for Safety comes from the phrase 'tie one on,' which is slang for drinking alcohol."  MADD is using the phrase as a reminder that drinking and driving do not mix. 

Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. says, "We see the devastating results of DUI accidents too often. We urge partygoers to choose a designated driver before attending parties and party hosts to act responsibly.”

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.