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The good news is statistics show the percentage of drivers involved in fatal accidents with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (that's the legal limit to drive in Ohio) has been steadily declining over the past 40 years.
That bad news is, according to a recent study published by MarketWatch Guides, this New Year's Eve could be on track for a record high in alcohol-related fatalities.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, on average, 37 lives are lost daily due to drunken driving crashes -- one fatality about every 39 minutes.
During the holidays, that gets even worse.
In fact, data from the U.S. Department of Transportation analyzed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicate alcohol is involved in traffic deaths on New Year's Day at a 33% higher rate than the annual average.
Beginning in 2020, that decline ended. The upward trend continued in 2021, reflecting a 4% increase in incidents from 2019 to 2021 and a 26.5% increase from just two years prior.
We fear a decision by voters in the November election to legalize recreational marijuana use in Ohio also might have an impact on impaired drivers taking to the roads this New Year's Eve.
SafeAuto.com previously has reported there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. Jan. 1 than on the average weekend night throughout the year.
What a horrific thing on a holiday that is supposed to be the celebration of new beginnings!
Please, if you are planning to celebrate this weekend, think ahead. If you suspect you will over do it, plan for a ride home -- or stay where you are, if the host has a spare bed or couch. Call a cab or a rideshare service; have a designated driver ... do whatever it takes to avoid driving under the influence. And hosts, understand your own responsibility. Try not to over serve, provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverage options, be willing to help arrange rides home for people or provide that spare bed or couch.
We've made it through another year; and we are eager to see what the new one will bring. Be smart, safe and responsible so that we can ring in the new year right.