Most people enjoy having a glass of champagne to celebrate ringing in the New Year. And, while there are many alternative transportation options now available, drunk driving continues to be a looming issue on New Year's Eve. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day — that's one person every 45 minutes. But on New Year’s Eve, between December 31st at 6:00 PM and January 1st at 6:00 AM, there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor. In just that 12-hour period, alcohol and drug-related car crashes tend to skyrocket. With that in mind, we’ve carefully assembled our best tips for New Year's Eve driving safety, to make sure you arrive safely into 2023.
Plan Ahead
If you are driving on New Year’s Eve, plan ahead for your travel. Map the best route and arrive as early as possible to your celebration to avoid busy roads. If you do run into heavy traffic, poor weather conditions, or dangerous drivers on the road, it’s always best to return home and celebrate from the comfort of your own home.
Drive the Speed Limit and Avoid Distractions
While it’s always illegal to speed, or to text and drive, these laws are especially important on New Year’s Eve. With unpredictable drivers on the road, it’s critical to stay alert and aware of your surroundings, so you can quickly react in case of an emergency.
Additionally, with more drunk drivers on the road, there’s often an increased police presence on New Year’s Eve which greatly increases your chances of getting a ticket for these offenses.
Never Drive Drunk
If you do find yourself drinking on New Year’s Eve, don’t get behind the wheel— even if you drove to your celebration. It’s always better to opt for an Uber or Lyft, call a cab, or phone a sober friend to get you home safely.
If you’re an AAA member, you can often get your car towed for free on New Year’s Eve, if needed— just call your local office for additional details.
New Years Eve Driving Safety With V&F
At V&F, we strive to provide our customers with a well-rounded knowledge of all things automotive— from New Year's Eve driving safety to the most common maintenance and repairs. Since 1988, our family-owned and operated service center has been providing top-quality auto repair services to Agawam, Feeding Hills, Southwick, West Springfield, and the surrounding Massachusetts communities. If your car needs maintenance or repair before this winter season, call us at (413)314-2280 or
schedule an appointment online.
