Recently, a 64-year-old man was pulled from a burning van after the vehicle went airborne and landed on top of another on I-40 in Knoxville. Those who came to his rescue later told investigators he reeked of alcohol, and beer cans were found in his van.
Our Knoxville injury attorneys are amazed no one was seriously hurt in this crash.
Through Thanksgiving and the year-end holidays, we’re going to see an influx of travelers on our highways, and it becomes even more critical to drive defensively. The National Highway Safety Association reports that Thanksgiving is one of the top holidays for DUIs, behind July 4th and New Year’s Eve.
Statewide, traffic fatalities were up in Tennessee between 2009 and 2010, according to the Tennessee Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Statewide in 2009, there were 986 traffic fatalities. The following year, there were 1,031 – an increase of nearly 5 percent.
In Knox County, there were 192 traffic fatalities in 2010, compared to 155 the year before. That’s a staggering increase of nearly 24 percent.
Of course, you can’t be in control of other drivers on the road, but you can remain vigilant and drive defensively. Some ways you may be able to reduce your risks of encountering a drunk driver include:
- Avoid going out late at night. The vast majority of drunk driving crashes happen after nightfall, when the drunk driver has had too much to drink at a party or bar or family gathering and is trying to make it home before the sun comes up. All the more reason to head home earlier.
- Consider staying the night. For the same reason mentioned above, it’s usually just better not to be on the road at night. If at all possible, visit a little longer and relax, without having to worry about whether you’ll run into an impaired driver on the way back.
- Find out the DUI hotspots in Knoxville, and do your best to avoid those. Duimap.org allows you to search by city. In Knoxville, some of the top places for DUI fatalities include: US-SR71, I-75, US-SR35, I-40, SR-332 and US-SR1 and Springhill Road. It’s not a guarantee that you will avoid drunk drivers, as they could be anywhere, but it’s worth checking out.
If you are the host of a holiday party, consider taking the following steps to keep your guests – and other motorists – safe:
- Offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. Things like water, soda, juice – make sure your guests have plenty of options and are not under any pressure to drink alcohol.
- Make sure you serve plenty of food. A full stomach is key to slowing the rate of alcohol absorption. So cook up some great food and have lots of appetizers on hand.
- Stop serving alcohol well in advance of the end of the party. If you give your guests an extra hour or two without the option of drinking before they leave, they are less likely to get in the vehicle while still impaired.
- Arrange alternate modes of transportation if necessary. Have the number of an available taxi service or offer a ride yourself. In worst case scenarios, don’t be afraid to hide the keys of a guest who is drunk and insisting on driving.
If you have been injured as a result of a DUI accident in Knoxville, contact G. Turner Howard III, Attorney at Law at (844) G3-Help-Me or 865-558-8030
