December Is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
 Written by Preston Micalizio Preston MicalizioPreston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing ... Read more |  Edited by Richard MurphyRichard MurphyRichard Murphy manages content on SmartFinancial's website. With a strong background in content strategy and copywriting... Read more |
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This December marks National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, serving as a reminder to stay vigilant against drunk driving during the winter holiday season and social gatherings where alcohol is involved. About 30% of all traffic crash fatalities are caused by drunk driving, which can lead to excessive costs, legal consequences and severe injuries or death.
Keep reading to learn more about this month-long observance, including how alcohol and drugs can affect your ability to drive and tips on avoiding impaired driving.
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Key Takeaways
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What Is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month?
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, also called National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about the risks associated with driving while impaired. It also serves as a reminder to look out for others who may be at risk of driving under the influence of various substances and to practice safe driving behaviors on the road.
When Is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month?
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month takes place in December each year. Two of the deadliest days for DUI-related accidents, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, occur during this month, making it a critical time to advocate for safer driving choices.[1]
Why Is Impaired Driving Prevention Important?
Impaired driving can lead to deadly consequences on the road, resulting in fatalities or injuries. A study of over 4,000 drivers taken between 2019 and 2021 found 54% of drivers seriously injured in an accident tested positive for some form of drugs, alcohol or a combination.[2] Not only do these drivers face potential medical bills for their own injuries, but they may be responsible for the medical expenses of others or the repair costs to their vehicle or other damaged property.
Between 2014 and 2023, there was an average of 11,000 deaths due to drunk-driving related crashes each year — accounting for about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities. In 2020, the majority of those who died in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities were the impaired drivers themselves, indicating just how critical it is to your own health not to get behind the wheel while impaired.[3]
What Are the Risks of Driving While Impaired?
When you drive impaired, you raise your risk of getting into an accident. For example, those with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 are four times more likely to get into an accident than those who drive sober. The more substances a person consumes, the greater this risk becomes. For example, those with a BAC of 0.15 are 12 times more likely to get into an accident compared to a sober driver.[3]
Driving while impaired is illegal in every state and can result in serious legal consequences, ranging from misdemeanors to felony offenses, fines, jail time and revocation of your driver’s license depending on your state’s laws. These fines can be substantial, with a first-time offense for driving after drinking potentially costing upwards of $10,000 in combined fines and legal fees.[3] You could also face expenses for damage caused to property, including your own vehicle, and costs due to injuries or fatalities depending on the severity of an accident.
Both getting into an accident and facing legal consequences for driving while impaired can also affect your car insurance. Being involved in an accident alone could increase your rates by as much as 50%.[5] Additionally, obtaining a DUI could result in increased car insurance rates and potential policy cancellation. Doing so may also make you ineligible for discounts, require higher deductibles and make it more challenging to get a policy from a standard car insurance company.[6]
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month History
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month originated after the tragic death of Cari Lightner, a 13-year-old who was killed after being struck by a drunk driver in May of 1980. Following her daughter’s death, Candy Lightner founded the non-profit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD advocated for stricter regulations around drinking, including harsher penalties for drinking and driving and increasing the drinking age to 21, which they successfully persuaded then-President Ronald Regan to do so in 1984.[7][8]
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month began in 1981 as a month-long initiative by MADD to promote safer driving and increase public awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired. December was chosen as the month for observance due to the high levels of drinking around the winter holidays, making it all the more important to prevent the high levels of those under the influence from getting behind the wheel.[7]
What Types of Impaired Driving Are There?
Below, we’ll discuss how alcohol and drug use can impair your driving ability.
Drunk Driving
Drinking can have a direct impact on your behavior, judgment and perception of reality. It can also affect your mental, emotional and physical state, which can severely impair your ability to drive safely. The effects of alcohol increase the more you drink, which can be even more dangerous if you’re in a social environment that encourages drinking, like a holiday party or social gathering.
Below is the breakdown of BAC levels and the effects they can have on your driving ability:[3]
|
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in g/dL |
Typical Effects |
Predictable Effects on Driving |
|---|---|---|
|
0.02 |
Altered mood and mild loss of judgement. |
Higher difficulty tracking movement and paying attention to more than one task at once, such as a distracting conversation or looking up directions. |
|
0.05 |
Impaired judgement, loss of small-muscle control, lowered alertness and inhibition. |
Lower coordination and difficulty steering. Slower response to emergencies on the road. |
|
0.08 |
Poor muscle coordination, impaired memory, judgement, reasoning and self-control. May find it challenging to detect danger. |
Difficulty concentrating and control of speed. Perception becomes impaired, and they may struggle to process information and retain short-term memories. |
|
0.10 |
Slurred speech, deteriorating reaction time and thinking ability. |
More likely to swerve and drift in the lane. Struggle to brake effectively. |
|
0.15 |
Severely decreased muscle control and sense of balance. May experience vomiting. |
Substantially reduced ability to control your vehicle, pay attention to the road and process information necessary to drive safely. |
Keep in mind that alcohol can affect individuals differently, so while drinking any amount can impact your ability to drive, it may affect some more quickly than others. Additionally, those who drink may be impacted by alcohol before they feel the effects of it, which can result in someone who’s had a few drinks believing they’re safe to drive since they don’t actively feel drunk.[3]
Drug-Impaired Driving
Numerous drugs can impair your driving ability. For example, marijuana can slow your decision-making abilities, reaction time and hand-eye coordination. However, other drugs may have different effects.[9]
Cocaine and methamphetamine, for instance, can increase aggressiveness and make you a more reckless driver. Combining multiple drugs can even amplify their effects, which can distort someone’s assessment of their driving ability more than expected. Even some over-the-counter or prescription drugs can impair your driving ability due to tiredness and dizziness.[9]
Impaired Driving Prevention Resources
You can sign up with organizations such as MADD to advocate for better impaired-driving prevention. Resources are available online to help you contribute.[10] If you or someone you know has issues with substance abuse that you worry could result in impaired driving, consider joining a local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group or a similar community to help establish healthier mechanisms for dealing with substance abuse.
Tips To Get Home Safely if You or Someone You Know Is Intoxicated
If you’re concerned about being intoxicated and driving, here are a few tips to prevent yourself from driving under the influence:
- Plan by knowing how you’ll handle transportation before going somewhere where you might consume alcohol or other substances. Don’t take anything that might impair your driving ability while at home if you know you might need to drive somewhere in the immediate future, as alcohol and marijuana can impair your driving ability for hours after you’ve consumed them.[11][12]
- If you are planning on drinking or taking drugs, ensure you have a designated sober driver who can bring you home. If you don’t have someone you know who is sober and available, consider using a ridesharing service like Uber or calling a local taxi to get to your destination, rather than driving yourself. Even if it means leaving your car somewhere safe for the following day, this is a safer option.
- Check your medications, whether prescription or over the counter, to ensure they don’t have any effects on driving. Some may affect you differently when taken alongside alcohol or other drugs, so always read about potential side effects and consider asking for more information from your doctor or local pharmacist.
Even if you take extensive precautions for your own driving, it's also essential to look out for friends, colleagues, family and even strangers who might make the mistake of driving under the influence. Here are a few tips if you see someone else intoxicated who may risk driving:
- Don’t let someone drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and don’t get in the car with them if they refuse to let someone else drive. Substances can affect someone’s perception of reality, leading to increased aggression. Therefore, try to approach them in a non-confrontational manner if possible.
- Remind guests to plan for their transportation before coming to any social gathering where alcohol and/or drugs may be present. Try to coordinate a designated driver for your social circle or others. If you’re hosting a party, offer alcohol-free alternatives and ensure everyone leaving has a safe, sober ride home.
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Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing in various industries, from higher education to e-commerce. He strives to engage with the audience, provide accurate reporting and make complex subjects easily digestible.
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