In a recent blog entry, we discussed the enhanced risk of falls around the holiday season. Unfortunately, slip-and-fall mishaps are not the only danger that Charlotte residents can encounter over the upcoming winter holidays.
Part of what makes the holidays seem so merry to many is the presence of alcohol at parties, dinners and other gatherings. This social lubricant can help ease tensions among family members who may be at sword points on hot-button issues without it. But drinking alcohol to get through an obligatory family or work function definitely has its downside.
Drunken driving can arise from celebrations
While drunken driving fatalities don’t peak during Christmas or New Year’s Eve — that dubious top spot belongs to the Fourth of July — the two holidays remain in the top 10 most deadly times to be out on the road. When you combine the increased number of families on the road traveling to their holiday destinations, with many driving on unfamiliar roads, the hazard of encountering an intoxicated driver rise as well.
How to protect your family
Every driver should be a sober driver. That responsibility rests on you if you are the one behind the wheel. But not everyone will do the responsible thing and refrain from driving after drinking. You can keep your family safer by reporting any potentially intoxicated drivers to the police once you are safely off the highway. In heavy traffic, give a suspected drunk driver a wide berth and avoid any road rage events that could occur.
If you get into an accident
Sometimes, no matter how safely you drive, an accident is unavoidable. If you are struck by an impaired driver here in North Carolina, it’s helpful to understand the laws of the state regarding compensation for your injuries, damages and other losses.
