According to AAA travel, nearly 42 million Americans will hit the road this Thanksgiving – making it the busiest Thanksgiving travel season since 2007. With so many people on our roadways, it is crucial that you stay safe and be on the lookout for dangerous and/or drunk drivers as you travel to your holiday destinations and family get-togethers. After all, Thanksgiving weekend is widely recognized by many in law enforcement as one of the most dangerous times to be on the road.
For instance, last Thanksgiving alone, Connecticut State Police made 52 DUI arrests and issued 3,538 moving violations – compared to only 43 DUI arrests and 2,548 tickets in 2013. Sadly, despite these increased efforts, troopers still had to respond to more than 900 motor vehicle accidents on Connecticut roadways last Thanksgiving, including one fatal accident on Route 7 involving a 29-year-old Norwalk man.
Efforts continue to curb drunk driving
While several Connecticut police departments are planning to utilize sobriety checkpoints and other safety measures this holiday weekend, it is important to remember that no amount of preparation or enforcement can completely prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel – as last year’s arrest numbers indicate. Simply put, some drivers simply do not get the message.
Fortunately, however, Connecticut law takes drunk driving very seriously. Not only do drunk drivers face criminal penalties, including jail time and fines, but they may also be liable in civil court if their actions injure an innocent party. In fact, victims of drunk drivers may be entitled double damages under Connecticut law, depending on the circumstances. One way or another, drunk drivers should be held responsible for their actions.
Source: AAA Travel, “46.9 MILLION AMERICANS TO TRAVEL FOR THANKSGIVING, ACCORDING TO AAA“, Amanda Shapiro, Nov. 17, 2015
Source: Bridgeport Daily Voice, “Connecticut State Police Say Thanksgiving Weekend Arrests, Tickets Were Up“, Joe Jenkins, Dec. 1, 2014
