Christmas Proves Once Again to Be Deadly for Drivers

The joyous spirit of the Christmas holiday often comes hand in hand with increased risks on the roads, particularly when Mother Nature decides to add her own elements to the celebration. Adverse weather conditions, ranging from snow and ice to rain, can turn the streets into a challenging obstacle course. Combining this with drunk drivers, wandering pedestrians, and distractions in the car makes for dangerous or even fatal driving conditions. Reflecting on past Christmas seasons unveils a recurring pattern marked by a surge in accidents during this festive time. As families hit the roads to share the season’s warmth with loved ones, the heightened traffic and unpredictable weather create a potentially perilous combination, demanding extra caution and a keen awareness of the seasonal driving challenges that tend to unfold.

Driving dangers of Christmas’ past

According to ValuePenguin, driving during Christmas proves to be more perilous than Thanksgiving, with data from 2010 to 2019 revealing that 64% of the 12,610 fatal crashes occurring around these holidays transpired during Christmas. Additionally, fatal crashes involving drunk or speeding drivers were nearly as prevalent during Christmas as they were during Thanksgiving, with only a marginal one percentage point difference between the two holidays.

Using Maryland’s Statewide Fatal Crash Dashboard, in Maryland last year, we can see there were 52 traffic accident fatalities in the month of December. Fifteen of those fatalities were pedestrian deaths, and notable factors that may have contributed to these accidents include speeding, distracted drivers, and impaired drivers.

Crashes this Christmas

While Christmas has only just ended, we can already see the effects the holiday has had on drivers in Maryland alone.

• Havre De Grace. There was a crash in Havre De Grace that trapped two people in their car on the 22nd.
• Montgomery County
  • In a developing story, a crash between a motorcycle and another vehicle left the motorcyclist dead. A pedestrian was also killed in a traffic accident in the same area. It seems the accidents are related, but reports are unclear.
  • In Gaithersburg on the 26th, two individuals were taken to the hospital following a violent crash that resulted in one person being trapped in a vehicle.
• Washington D.C. On Christmas morning, D.C. officials dealt with a series of accidents on Interstate 295. Between 11:40 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 1 a.m. on Christmas Day, there were four separate car crashes. The first two were minor and occurred in the northbound lanes. Around midnight, while crews were clearing those incidents, another collision happened in the southbound lanes. This crash resulted in a vehicle flipping upside down and trapping a man underneath. Emergency responders had to navigate through traffic to address a fourth crash along the same stretch of I-295. The man trapped under the overturned vehicle was freed using extraction equipment and was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Fortunately, there were no other occupants in his car, and no additional serious injuries were reported.

Why is it dangerous to drive during the holidays?

Driving during the holiday season can be risky for a few reasons.

• First off, the weather can be a headache, with snow, ice, and rain making the roads slippery and visibility not so great. More people hitting the road to see their friends or family also means more traffic, which just adds to the chance of accidents and delays.
• The number of drunk drivers on the road may also be higher. Liquor flows at many holiday parties, and folks may imbibe more readily than they otherwise would.
• With everyone in a rush to get somewhere during the holidays, some drivers decide to drive over the speed limits. Speeding is dangerous in any scenario, but especially so when the traffic is heavy and the weather is less-than-ideal.

Since we can’t always avoid driving during the holidays, accidents are always going to be a possibility even if you are taking every precaution and driving defensively. If you were in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you do not deserve to be stuck with hospital bills during the holiday season. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A, our experienced Maryland attorneys are ready to take your case. Using years of skill and our extensive knowledge of the legal process, we will make you our top priority and ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries. For more information about our services, or to schedule a free consultation at one of our office locations here in Maryland, please call us or contact us today.