Holiday Driving Increases Car Accidents in New Mexico

Holiday driving on interstates and highways is a dangerous way of traveling. In recent years, there has been an increase in traffic tickets, drunk-driving accidents, and fatal car accidents in New Mexico and across the nation during holiday travel-times.

This past Memorial Day, New Mexico State Police worked through the holiday weekend and were out in full force trying to decrease car crashes in New Mexico. They arrested 106 people statewide for drunken driving and cited thousands of other drivers throughout the state for breaking the law. New Mexico Police ticketed 2,234 people for speeding, and they issued 603 seat-belt citations. In spite of their efforts, there were 66 car crashes in New Mexico over this weekend.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) indicates that more people are traveling by car due to the recession. AAA spokesperson Robert Sinclair said, “The combined factors of more than 50% more drivers on the road and higher-than-usual alcohol consumption contribute to the danger.”

Most people think of holiday driving as the period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but some of the other holidays that top the charts in fatal traffic accidents are Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Labor Day. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has named Thanksgiving Day as the deadliest driving holiday.

Holiday driving will increase a driver’s risk for being involved in a traffic accident. NHTSA revealed that an average of 102 people lose their lives in traffic accidents on a daily basis, but an average of 550 people are killed on the roads each year during holidays.

Officials and police in New Mexico and across the nation are urging motorists to obey the traffic laws and be safe over the holidays. Safety tips include:

• Get plenty of sleep the night before you drive
• Allow enough time for travel
• Map the route out in detail
• Check the tire pressure and oil levels before the drive
• Adhere to speed limits
• Don’t drink and drive
• Do not text or e-mail from behind the wheel

If you have been injured in a car accident in New Mexico and need advice on your legal rights, contact an experienced Albuquerque auto accident attorney at the law firm of Keller & Keller at (505) 938-2300 today.

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