Cautioning Young Drivers About the Dangers of Black Wednesday
A law enforcement friend of ours tells us that this time of year they see a sharp increase in the number of arrests related to college kids who drink and drive. These kids come home for the weekend, excited to see their friends, borrow their parents’ cars, head to parties and, far too often, drink and drive.
With the majority of college-aged kids returning home the weekend of Thanksgiving, it is important for parents to remind their children of the hazards of drinking and driving.
Thanksgiving Eve – the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving – is a perfect storm for tragedy on the roads. In law enforcement circles, Thanksgiving Eve is known as “Black Wednesday,” or “Black-out Wednesday.” For them, it marks the unofficial start of the holiday DWI season.
In many areas, there are more drunk driving arrests on Black Wednesday than on Christmas or New Year’s Eve. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in four out of the last five years (where data is available), Thanksgiving weekend surpassed New Year's in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
The night before Thanksgiving has all the makings for disaster on the road: College students home for the long weekend, eager to see their school friends and proud of their newfound independence; combined with drink specials offered at the bars and the prospect of sleeping in to get rid of a hangover, and you have the perfect recipe for a problem.
As you welcome your young adult children home for the Thanksgiving holiday, spend just a few minutes reminding them of the hazards of drinking and driving and help them develop a going-out plan that keeps them safe.
If they don’t have a designated driver, ask them to order an Uber or Lyft ride. If they don’t have the app installed on their phone, help them do so. And, if they don’t have the means to pay for the service, offer to help pay for it.
An Uber ride typically costs less than a pizza. If you’ve ever treated your kids to lunch or dinner out, consider treating them to a safe ride.
How to Download Uber on Your Phone
Android download steps:
- Tap the Google Play icon.
- Tap the search bar, type Uber, then tap Search.
- Select the Uber icon and tap Install.
- After app installation is complete, tap Open.
iPhone download steps:
- Tap the App Store icon.
- Tap the Search Icon, search Uber.
- Select the Uber icon and tap Install.
- After app installation is complete, tap Open.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
At Casey Law Offices, S.C., we focus exclusively on prosecuting injury claims to ensure negligent individuals and businesses are held responsible for irresponsible behavior resulting in injury so those who are harmed are fairly compensated. Our Wisconsin car accident attorney represents Wisconsinites who have suffered a variety of injuries, including those related to accidents caused by drunk drivers. Contact us today for local representation.