Happy NEW YEAR 2026 from Aronfeld Trial Lawyers

• Late Night (10 PM – 4 AM): This window sees the highest risk of fatal crashes, due to alcohol impairment and fatigue.

• Midnight – 3 AM (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day): Traffic peaks, distractions soar (8 PM – midnight), and impaired driving is rampant, making these critical hours.

• Afternoon Rush (3 PM – 8 PM on travel days): High volume of travelers, construction, and general holiday rush increase congestion and potential for accidents.

With many people celebrating the New Year and then getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking, January 1, 2025, is a particularly dangerous day to be on the roads.

Even one death is too many to be lost from a completely preventable crime. Recent NHTSA data shows December drunk driving deaths are the highest in almost 15 years. There were 1,013 lives lost in drunk driving crashes in December 2021. Between 2017-2021, 4,561 people were killed in December drunk driving crashes. More than 50% of accidents on New Year’s Day involve high blood alcohol concentration.

The national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign not only spreads the message of safe driving during the season but also comes with a national crackdown on drunk driving enforcement. Officers throughout the country will be on high alert, making every effort to keep roads safer for travelers heading to or from New Year’s festivities.

Here are some important tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe this New Year’s Eve.

1. Wear Your Seatbelt. One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Studies show the use of seat belts is 45% effective in preventing fatalities among front-seat passenger car occupants. An estimated seventy-one lives may be saved this New Year’s Day holiday period because vehicle occupants wear their seat belts. An additional forty-two lives could be saved if everyone wears seat belts.

2. Properly secure your children. Make sure children are always properly buckled in the back seat. Age and size appropriate car seats reduce serious and fatal injuries to children by half.

3. Obey speed limits. Speeding is 100% preventable and is a contributing factor in many fatal car accidents.

4. Drive distraction-free. Distractions not only involve texting and driving, but anything that takes your focus off the road for even a second (i.e. – cell phone use, adjusting the radio or GPS device, eating and drinking, personal grooming, talking to passengers, tending to small children or pets, reading, watching a video, etc.)

5. Plan ahead. Plan your travel options ahead of time, arranging for a designated driver, a hotel stay, shuttle/limo service, public transportation and extra “Plan B” options before your night out.

6. Sober Ride Programs. Consider local Sober Ride programs and have their information handy for yourself or friends. Miami has several free shuttles  available for South Beach party goers.

7. Public Transportation, Uber & Lyft. Use public transportation, ride-sharing services, or cabs to and from your destination so you can avoid leaving your car in a strange place overnight.

8. Secure your vehicle. If you must leave your car, park in a populated, well-lit area. Roll up windows, lock all doors, and ensure all valuables are left at home or secured out of sight.

9. Bring only what you need with you – including identification, money and one credit card. Leave any department store cards or unneeded valuables at home.

10. Do not drink and drive. Even just one or two drinks can be all it takes to cause a driver to lose the ability to react appropriately while driving. A small amount of alcohol can impair important skills that are needed to drive safely, including the ability to react quickly, unobstructed vision, concentration, and judgment. Driving under the influence does not just involve alcohol use. Prescription drug use behind the wheel can also result in a DUI.  Read the warning labels on your prescriptions and always have a designated driver in place.