The holidays should be full of cheer, not fear on the road
Every year, the season of giving becomes a season of grief for families across Oklahoma who lose loved ones to drunk driving accidents. This year, state agencies are putting their foot down (literally and figuratively) with a coordinated push to keep drunk and drugged drivers off Oklahoma roads during the most dangerous weeks of the year.
Multiple Oklahoma agencies are joining forces this holiday season, and they're not messing around. The Oklahoma ABLE Commission, Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and local police departments are teaming up with nonprofits to send a clear message that impaired driving will not be tolerated.
The effort includes two major initiatives. First, there's the Tree of Life Ceremony at Penn Square Mall. This is where a Christmas tree stands, decorated with ornaments honoring people killed by impaired drivers. Under that tree sit 146 wrapped gifts. Each one represents a life lost to impaired driving in Oklahoma County since 2020. It's a gut-wrenching reminder that behind every statistic is a person who won't make it home for the holidays.
The second part of the crackdown is the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" mobilization, running from mid-December through New Year's Day. During this time, you'll see more troopers on the highways, more patrol cars in nightlife areas, and more checkpoints designed to catch impaired drivers before they cause a crash.
Why are the holidays so dangerous for impaired driving?
The holidays bring together everything that makes impaired driving more likely and more deadly. Here's what makes this time of year particularly risky:
- More parties and social events mean more drinking.
- Unfamiliar roads and out-of-town visitors who don't know the area.
- Late-night driving when fatigue compounds impairment.
- Bad weather conditions, like ice and snow, make drunk driving crashes more severe.
Driving under the influence of alcohol isn’t just risky; it’s tragically common and often deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 20,23 there were 12,429 alcohol-impaired driving deaths in the United States. That works out to roughly 34 people every single day, or one person every 42 minutes, losing their life in a crash involving a drunk driver.
Where does alcohol impairment begin?
A common misconception is that buzzed driving is okay, even within the legal limit. Even alcohol levels below the legal limit carry serious risks. NHTSA estimates that 2,117 people died in 2023 in crashes where the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .01 and .07 g/dL. This is well under the .08 limit.
As BAC rises, coordination, reaction time, judgment, and the ability to track moving objects all suffer. At just .05 g/dL, alcohol can impair coordination and visual tracking. By .08, reaction times, vision, and judgment are significantly compromised. At .15, driving becomes extremely dangerous, with severe loss of control and delayed reactions.
How can drunk driving accidents be prevented this holiday season?
Most drunk driving accidents are preventable with a few thoughtful steps. Drivers, passengers, and even party hosts all play a role in keeping Oklahoma roads safer during the busy holiday months. Here are practical ways to reduce the risk of drunk driving accidents this season:
- Plan a sober ride before the party starts: Set up a designated driver, rideshare, cab, or public transit option before alcohol enters the picture.
- Know your limits and stop early: Eat before drinking, pace yourself, and switch to water as the night winds down.
- Never assume you’re “okay to drive”: Even small amounts of alcohol can affect coordination and judgment, especially at night or on unfamiliar roads.
- Give your keys to someone you trust: If you plan to drink, handing them over removes the temptation to drive later.
- Stay where you are if possible: Spending the night at a friend’s home or a nearby hotel is often the safest choice.
- Prevent others from driving drunk: Speak up when someone else is about to drive impaired. Offer them a ride, call a rideshare, or ask another friend to help.
- Hosts can offer non-alcoholic options: Stocking water and alcohol-free drinks encourages guests to pace themselves.
- Stop serving alcohol well before guests leave: Switch to snacks, coffee, or dessert to help wind things down safely.
- Arrange safe rides for guests: Have rideshare apps queued up or know which taxi companies operate late in your area.
- Make space for overnight guests: Offering a couch or spare room can keep someone from making a dangerous decision at the end of the night.
- Be aware of drunk drivers on the road: If you're a sober driver, watch out for other drunk drivers. If you see someone behaving erratically or noticeably impaired, keep your distance and call the police.
Injured by a drunk driver in Oklahoma? Get the legal support you deserve
If you or a loved one was hit by a drunk driver in Oklahoma this holiday season, don't wait to take legal action. Lawter & Associates, PLLC has spent more than four decades standing up for people whose lives were changed by drunk driving crashes. Our knowledgeable and compassionate legal team knows what it takes to guide families through one of the hardest moments they’ll ever face.
When you reach out, you’ll get a free consultation to talk openly about what happened and what you’re dealing with now. There’s no pressure, no obligation, and no upfront cost to get answers. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless we win your case.
Contact us online or call today to book a free consultation. We can explain your options, outline what to expect, and help you move forward with confidence during a time that already feels overwhelming.
"I have no complaints whatsoever. You helped me get to the end of a bad experience. Once I hired you, I didn’t have to do anything except talk on the phone a few times. Thanks!" - John, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐