The holidays usually mean spending quality time with loved ones, feeling grateful, and, of course, food and drinks. Still, every year, law enforcement across New Jersey, New York, and the nation prepares for the predictable pattern of increased drunk and impaired driving during the holidays. Sadly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2019 to 2023, 868 people were killed in drunk driving crashes during just the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Despite the rise of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, too many drivers still risk driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs, causing the number of fatal accidents to rise. Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians often suffer the consequences of others’ reckless and careless decisions, especially during the Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s holiday period, when those statistics climb even higher. The National Safety Council (NSC) predicted, with a 90% confidence interval, that during the 2025 Christmas holiday season, there will be an estimated 131 traffic deaths. Additionally, it was projected that during the 2026 New Year’s Day holiday period, 179 people may die on U.S. roads. Both holidays cite alcohol consumption as a major contributing factor to the increase, even with the growing popularity of rideshare apps and widespread education of the risks.
Understanding New Jersey’s Drunk Driving Laws
Under New Jersey Statute N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%, and for anyone under 21, any detectable amount of alcohol can lead to charges. Penalties for drunk driving in New Jersey can include:
- Fines and license suspension
- Mandatory alcohol education programs
- Installation of an ignition interlock device
- Jail time
While criminal penalties are intended to punish the offender, they do very little to help victims and families recover from the physical, emotional, and financial toll of a drunk driving crash. That’s where an experienced New Jersey drunk driving accident attorney can make all the difference by helping to pursue compensation for the irreversible harm, damages, and economic and non-economic losses caused by someone else’s negligence.
How to Stay Safe on the Roads This Holiday Season
The decision not to drive while impaired is simple, despite what statistics show about how often DWI crashes happen. Even if you are not driving under the influence, there are a few simple choices that can dramatically reduce the risk of being involved in a crash:
- Plan ahead – If alcohol will be part of your plans, arrange a sober ride or stay overnight.
- Avoid driving late at night – Most fatal drunk driving crashes happen between midnight and 3 a.m.
- Buckle up – Seat belts save lives, especially when others could be driving recklessly.
- Stay alert – If you notice a car swerving, speeding, or braking erratically, keep your distance and contact law enforcement if needed.
- Drive defensively – Don’t expect other drivers to be sober. Stay focused, avoid distractions, and always expect the unexpected.
Skipping a holiday drink doesn’t mean missing out on the celebration, but it does mean that being responsible and ensuring everyone gets home safely are essential when the alternative could be a preventable tragedy.
Where Drunk Driving Crashes Happen Most in New Jersey
Drunk driving Crashes can happen anywhere, but certain highways in New Jersey have seen more than their share of tragedy, especially during the holiday season. Some of the most dangerous New Jersey roads and highways include:
- Garden State Parkway – Stretching from Bergen County to Cape May, this major highway sees heavy holiday traffic and a high number of impaired-driving incidents.
- New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) – One of the busiest roadways in the nation, where speed and fatigue can make impaired driving even deadlier.
- U.S. Routes 1 and 9 – Particularly through Hudson, Essex, and Union Counties, where nighttime and weekend crashes are common.
For those traveling through the state’s busiest counties, Bergen, Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Passaic, Essex, and Morris Counties, and the greater New Jersey, New York region, it’s essential to stay alert, avoid late-night drives when possible, never drive while impaired, and plan ahead to stay safe all year round.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hit by a Drunk Driver
If you’ve been injured or lost someone due to a drunk driver, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Taking the right steps early on can protect your rights and help your recovery in the long run.
- Get medical help immediately – Even if injuries seem minor, some serious injuries take time to appear, so report everything, no matter how it appears.
- Document everything – Photos, witness information, police reports, and details about the driver’s behavior.
- Contact a skilled New Jersey injury lawyer as soon as possible – An experienced attorney can launch an investigation, secure critical evidence, and build your case.
- Know your rights – You may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
Victims of drunk driving crashes deserve justice, and having a strong legal team by your side ensures your voice is heard and justice will be pursued and secured.
The Importance of Having an Experienced New Jersey Injury Attorney
At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., the focus is always on helping victims rebuild their lives after devastating accidents with experienced attorneys who genuinely care and understand how devastating the aftermath of a drunk-driving crash can be. With over 40 years of proven experience, the firm has proudly recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements and has helped more than 40,000 clients and families secure the justice they deserve after being injured by another’s negligence.
For Partner Steven Benvenisti, Esq., this issue is far more than professional – it’s personal. When he was a senior at The College of New Jersey, he was walking when he was struck by a drunk driver, leaving him with catastrophic injuries, including two broken legs and a severe traumatic brain injury. After 15 surgeries and months of rehabilitation, he miraculously made a full recovery and went on to graduate with honors from college and finish at the top of his class in law school. He has since dedicated his career to representing victims of drunk driving crashes, fall-down incidents, pedestrian accidents, and wrongful death cases throughout New Jersey, as well as becoming a notable advocate for drunk driving prevention.
Steven is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction held by less than 3 percent of New Jersey’s practicing lawyers. He is also the President of the New Jersey Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Co-Chairman of MADD National. Since his presidency, he has served as a MADD National Ambassador, becoming a powerful force for drunk driving prevention in New Jersey. He spends significant time educating others on the risks and tragedies that come with careless DWI crashes from both his personal experience and his long legal career.
Regarding holiday drunk driving, Steven stated:
“As a personal injury attorney, a MADD National Ambassador, and a survivor of being struck by a drunk driver while I was walking at 21 years old, I’ve seen firsthand how one reckless decision can change a life forever. This holiday season, the greatest gift you can give is making it home safely, and ensuring everyone around you does, too. Plan a sober ride before the first drink, take the keys from someone who shouldn’t be driving, and speak up even when it’s uncomfortable. Your choices can be the difference between a joyful celebration and a lifelong tragedy.”
Steven’s story and passion for change are shown in his commitment to hold drunk drivers accountable and seek justice for victims and their families. To read Steven’s story, “Spring Break, a True Story of Hope and Determination”(2012), available through Amazon or directly to families in need of comfort and motivation by calling him on his cell phone (201) 500-LAWS.
If you have been injured due to a drunk, careless, or negligent driver, call an experienced New Jersey drunk driving accident attorney or wrongful death lawyer immediately, someone who understands what you’re going through, knows how to fight for your rights, and will start building a case right away. The experienced legal team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. is here to help navigate recovering the compensation deserved while the client and their families focus on healing.
When You Need Help, We’re Here
The holiday season should bring joy, reunion, and warmth, not tragedy. If your holiday was forever changed by another’s reckless decision to drink and drive, or if you have questions about your rights after an accident, we are here to help. At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., we’ve seen firsthand how drunk driving destroys lives in a matter of seconds, and you don’t have to go through it alone.
The experienced New Jersey drunk driving accident attorneys and NJ wrongful death lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. offer free consultations and second opinions and have offices throughout New Jersey and New York City. With over $1 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for more than 40,000 clients and their families, the firm has extensive experience handling drunk driving accident cases, including some of New Jersey’s most devastating tragedies. Their skilled New Jersey lawyers will work with experts to determine the cause and parties responsible for the accident, so victims can focus on healing and getting back on their feet.
