Thanksgiving Eve is one of those holidays people don’t know they celebrate. Widely popular in suburban towns, Thanksgiving Eve is a night to reunite with old hometown friends at the local bar. It’s referred to as Black Wednesday, Blackout Wednesday, or Drinksgiving. As you might infer, Thanksgiving Eve is a night of heavy drinking and unfortunately too many drunk driving incidents.

Celebrate Thanksgiving Eve Safely with These Tips

A Dangerous Night for Drivers

Bars claim this as one of the biggest nights of the year for their business. People are off work with nowhere to be the next day. Also, it’s usually college students’ first-time home since leaving for college. So, people flock to the bars for impromptu reunions.

Unfortunately, with so many people out drinking and celebrating, it also makes for one of the most dangerous nights for drivers. MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, reports there are more drunk driving fatalities on Blackout Wednesday than New Year’s Eve and July 4th.

Be Safe and Still Have Fun this Thanksgiving Eve

Although we have extensive experience with DWI and DUI cases, at Dummit Fradin, we first care about the safety of our community. So, we’re giving you a few tips to make sure you have a great time this Thanksgiving Eve while keeping yourself and others safe.

Ways to Prevent Drunk Driving

  • Choose a responsible designated driver if you plan on drinking alcohol.

  • Ask for a ride home.

  • If someone has been drinking alcohol, it’s okay to take their keys. You’ll be protecting them as well as protecting others.

Ways to Prevent Drunk Driving as a Party Host

  • Offer fun non-alcoholic drink choices like juice, soda, mocktails, etc.

  • Don’t pressure guests to drink alcohol.

  • Serve plenty of food and snacks. Avoid salty foods, though, as these tend to make people thirsty.

  • Stay attentive to your guests’ alcohol intake. If need be, arrange for alternative transportations such as a taxi or Uber ride.

  • Never serve alcohol to minors.

Signs of a Drunk Driver

These are a few key signs that can alert you of someone who may be driving under the influence.

  • Making wide turns

  • Weaving, swerving, drifting, or straddling the center line

  • Almost striking an object or vehicle

  • Driving on the wrong side of the road

  • Driving at a very slow speed

  • Stopping without cause

  • Braking erratically

  • Responding slowly to traffic signals

  • Turning abruptly or illegally

  • Driving after dark with headlights off

If you notice a driver showing these signs, pull over and call 911.

Dummit Fradin extends legal services to the Piedmont Triad area. We have offices in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. Our attorneys have experience in the areas of criminal, family, and immigration law. In the unfortunate circumstance that you find yourself with a DWI or DUI charge this holiday season, you can rely on Dummit Fradin. Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our DWI lawyers.

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