The 3rd Most Dangerous Holiday for Drunk Driving: Blackout Wednesday 

Surprising news: The third most dangerous holiday for drunk driving is, somehow, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We here at Edwards Insurance Agency in Taylors South Carolina are a little perplexed by this, because we’re always cooking up a storm or driving to see family and friends on the day before Thanksgiving — neither of which work well with a large amount of alcohol. But the data confirms it: the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is so prolific for drunk driving that it’s even earned the nicknames Dranksgiving and Blackout Wednesday. 

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that on the day before Thanksgiving, there is a 68% increase in car accidents, with more than 200 Americans losing their lives as a result of drunk driving on the Wednesday before Halloween. 

If you plan to be on the road the day before Thanksgiving, it’s critical to take some steps to keep yourself and your family safer. While you can’t control the behavior of others, there are steps you can take to increase your safety while traveling on Blackout Wednesday, reducing your chances of being in an accident with a drunk driver and having to file a claim on your auto insurance. 

1. Travel during the day 

The incidence of drunk driving increases at night, likely because people have had more time to imbibe, and they need to get home or wherever they’re going after the “party.” For that reason, it’s safer to drive during the daylight hours if you plan on being out the day before Thanksgiving. Also, driving during the day provides better visibility, which can prevent accidents for both drunk and sober drivers. 

2. Know where the bar districts are 

Drunk drivers can be anywhere, but you’re likely to find a higher concentration of them in bar districts. When planning your route, steer clear of areas where you know there is likely to be a lot of drinking, such as bar districts, tourist areas, and entertainment districts. 

3. Plan your route in advance 

Planning your route in advance helps you make smart choices about the safest route to take to and from your destination. Stick to roads that are well-lighted and away from entertainment areas. Also, if you can avoid roads with dangerous turns (such as mountain roads), you may be able to reduce your chance of being in an accident altogether, not just with a drunk driver.

4. Be the designated driver 

If you know you’ll be out with friends the day before Thanksgiving, and you know everyone else will be drinking, offer to be the designated driver. Not only will you keep your friends safe, but you will be doing a big favor for the rest of the people on the road who are traveling to see family and friends for Thanksgiving. One less drunk driver on the road can mean the difference between a happy holiday and disaster – don’t risk it! 

5. Always wear your seat belt

This goes for every day of the year, but even more so on days when you’re more likely to have a run-in with a drunk driver. Also, make sure heavy items in your vehicle’s passenger compartment are secured, too. In an accident, heavy items like tools or sports equipment can become deadly projectiles. 

6. Make sure your car insurance coverage is up to date 

If you do end up in an accident with a drunk driver, you don’t want to end up making a bad situation worse by not having the coverage you need in case the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. Want to know more about making sure you’re covered? Give us a call today.