Holiday travel, fatigue, and impaired driving all increase risk
The holidays are supposed to be loud, crowded, and full of laughter. But for too many Texas families, there is a quiet reminder sitting right at the table. An empty chair. As celebrations ramp up across the state, the Texas Department of Transportation is asking Texans to remember that the choices made on the road can follow families long after the decorations come down. Losing a loved one in a drunk driving car accident is painful any time of year, but the holidays have a way of reopening wounds.
As TxDOT leadership has emphasized, making a sober ride part of holiday plans should be as routine as setting the table or wrapping gifts. For Charisse Thomas, the empty chair is not symbolic; it’s real. Her daughter Destani was killed by a drunk driver in a head-on crash while driving home from high school in 2020.
Earlier that day, Destani learned she had been accepted into college. The driver who caused the crash had been binge drinking all weekend. He served four years in prison. Charisse and her family received what she calls a life sentence. Stories like hers are the reason TxDOT continues to push its message year after year.
Why are the holidays particularly dangerous for drunk driving?
TxDOT reminds Texans that behind every statistic is a family living with a permanent absence. December has consistently been one of the most dangerous months on Texas roads, with last year seeing the highest number of drunk driving crashes of any month. During the 2024 holiday season alone, more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes were reported across the state. Every one of them was preventable.
The holidays are particularly dangerous for drunk driving because:
- More holiday parties and gatherings where alcohol is readily available
- Increased travel for family visits, shopping, and seasonal events
- Longer nighttime driving hours with reduced visibility
- Fatigue from late nights, disrupted routines, and long drives
- Higher traffic congestion on highways and local roads
- Greater likelihood of drivers underestimating their level of impairment
Where does alcohol impairment begin?
Alcohol affects the body and brain in measurable ways, and even small increases in Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) can make driving unsafe. As BAC rises, judgment, coordination, and reaction time steadily decline, increasing the risk of serious crashes. Here’s what that looks like:
- .02 BAC: Mild relaxation and slight loss of judgment. Visual tracking declines and multitasking becomes more difficult, even at this low level.
- .05 BAC: Impaired judgment and reduced alertness. Coordination suffers, steering becomes more difficult, and the response to sudden hazards slows.
- .08 BAC: Poor muscle coordination and impaired reasoning. Drivers struggle with concentration, speed control, perception, and processing visual information.
- .10 BAC: Noticeable loss of reaction time and control. Maintaining lane position and braking properly becomes difficult.
- .15 BAC: Severe loss of muscle control and balance. Vehicle control, attention, and visual and auditory processing are heavily impaired, which makes driving extremely dangerous.
Because crash risk rises sharply at higher alcohol levels, driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal. But even lower BAC levels are far from safe, as shown by the 2,117 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2023 involving drivers with BACs between .01 and .07.
What does it mean to drive the Texas way?
TxDOT’s message is simple and rooted in values Texans already understand. Driving the Texas way means:
- Being kind, courteous, and safe.
- Recognizing that the road is shared space.
- Understanding that one reckless decision can change lives forever.
Preventing drunk driving crashes starts with planning ahead. TxDOT encourages everyone to take simple steps before the first drink is poured:
- Designate a sober driver before the event begins.
- Call a sober friend for a ride home.
- Use public transportation or a rideshare service.
- Stay where you are until you are fully sober.
- If you host an event, offer non-alcoholic options.
Hurt by a drunk driver this holiday season? Get legal help now
A drunk driving crash can turn a holiday celebration into a life-changing event in seconds. If you or someone you love was injured by an impaired driver, John R. Solis, Attorney at Law, is ready to step in and protect your rights. With decades of experience handling serious car accident cases in Texas, our firm knows how to investigate drunk driving crashes, preserve critical evidence, and hold reckless drivers and their insurance companies accountable.
When you contact our office, you will receive a free consultation where we listen to your story, explain your legal options, and answer your questions in plain language. There is no upfront cost to get help. We handle drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. While you focus on medical care and getting your life back on track, we deal with the insurance company and fight for the full value of your claim.
Contact us as soon as possible to protect your claim before evidence disappears or deadlines pass. Our firm proudly serves injured clients in Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and throughout Texas, with services available in both English and Spanish.