The winter holidays bring special events and increased, around-the-clock traffic, underscoring the need for safe driving behaviors throughout the festive season. Like other festive seasons, the winter holidays are a time of year when many alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities occur. From December 10, 2025, through January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local law enforcement will step up efforts to stop impaired driving and protect road users’ safety in alignment with the winter holiday high-visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
In the combined Decembers of 2019-2023, there were 4,931 fatalities in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver, with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 g/dL or higher. In December 2023 alone, there were 1,038 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, 697 of which involved a driver with a BAC of almost twice the legal limit in most states. Male drivers (22%) were more likely to be involved in fatal alcohol-impaired-driving crashes than female drivers (18%). Drivers ages 21-34 (27%) were most likely to be involved in fatal alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, followed by drivers ages 35-44 (24%).
Not only is driving impaired illegal, but it is also dangerous and never acceptable. Drivers should be safe during this winter holiday season by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.