These holidays are notoriously bad for drinking and driving.

Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents occur every single day. However, ther eare certain days of the year that are worse than others. These are holidays where drinking and revelry often coincide with challenging weather. However, even in perfect weather - drinking and driving don't mix. If you are planning to party then be responsible and use a designated driver or ride share services to help keep the roads safer. Even with these precautions though, it is essential that you be extra dilligent so you can lookout for signs that other drivers may be impaired.

Using historical data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, MoneyGeek has forecasted 8,555 fatalities from drunk driving in 2021.

If you want to reduce the chances of you or your family being involved in one of these accidents, it’s important that you employ defensive driving habits and keep an eye out for drunk drivers—especially on days when there are typically more intoxicated drivers on the road.

Whether you’re taking a road trip to visit family for the holidays or making a quick run to the local grocery store for a last-minute holiday dish, here are 12 days when you should be watching out for drunk drivers.

New Year’s

For many people, new year’s resolutions end on day one. After people ring in another year with a few too many drinks, some of them get behind the wheel and risk their own lives and those of other drivers.

According to FARS fatal crash data, this holiday claims the highest percentage of alcohol-related deaths.

Memorial Day

Every Memorial Day, millions of Americans venture outside to welcome the warm summer weather with barbeques, parties, and of course, drinks.

As Memorial Day weekend also includes plenty of traveling, there is a noticeable spike in drunk-driving-related fatalities during this national holiday.

Labor Day

Just as Memorial Day allows families to welcome the warm weather, Labor Day allows families one last opportunity to celebrate outdoors before the fall and winter seasons arrive.

Alcohol consumption is the norm at many Labor Day parties, leading to more drunk driving deaths than on most days of the year.

Independence Day

Many experts consider the Fourth of July to be the deadliest day of the year, and largely because of the plethora of DUI arrests and drunk driving accidents that occur.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported an average of 129 traffic-related fatalities on Independence Day each year between 2015 and 2019.

Christmas

The season that is so often referred to as the “most wonderful time of the year” is reduced to tragedy for some families.

Christmas is one of the booziest holidays, with seasonal alcoholic beverages—such as eggnog—making an appearance in many kitchens. As intoxicated drivers rush home, they inevitably put other travelers at risk.

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is known for much more than corned beef and the color green. The day is also notorious for alcohol consumption, and unfortunately, this results in more drunk driving accidents than the average day.

Thanksgiving

Not only is Thanksgiving a major holiday when many families come together and share a drink but it’s also one of the busiest traveling weekends on the entire U.S. calendar. In 2018, AAA estimated that over 54 million Americans would travel during Thanksgiving.

For this reason, Thanksgiving yields a large number of accidents and not all of them involve drunk driving.

Father’s Day

On Father’s Day, thousands of vehicles plague the roadways in order to reach their father’s favorite restaurant for lunch.

What’s more, beer is one of the most popular Father’s Day treats. The increase in traffic, in tandem with an affinity for beer, causes roads to become especially deadly on this particular holiday.

Columbus Day

Columbus Day isn’t your conventional holiday, as it doesn’t typically involve the excitement or festivities of other major holidays.

Regardless, many people opt to spend their day off kicking back and having a few drinks with friends—and in many cases, this culminates in drunk driving.

Halloween

Halloween is a day that yields no shortage of frights but no scene is scarier than a deadly collision with an intoxicated driver.

While children dress up and go from door to door to collect candy, many adults have Halloween parties of their own. Those who have been drinking often get behind the wheel, risking the lives of walking children and other drivers.

Cinco de Mayo

May 5th is a notoriously dangerous day for driving, especially when this popular holiday happens to also fall on a weekend.

For many people, no Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without a few margaritas or fiesta-themed cocktails. The NHTSA reported that nearly 20% of drivers killed on Cinco de Mayo in 2016 had BACs of .15 or higher—almost twice the legal limit!

Any Snow Day!

Although fewer people are likely to drive while it’s snowing outside, slippery conditions don’t stop intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel. This combination of poor judgment and inclement weather can often be a fatal one.