AAA, MADD, and Waymo Unite to Prevent Holiday Drunk Driving

A view from inside a car through a shattered windshield at night, with oncoming headlights blurred in the distance and the text "SAY NO TO DRUNK DRIVING" in the upper right.

South Carolina’s “Sober or Slammer” campaign highlights how severe holiday drunk driving crashes have become

Like many states, South Carolina is taking a tough stance against drunk driving this holiday season, a time traditionally when car accidents are increasingly caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol.

“Impaired driving is a preventable crisis, and AAA remains dedicated to helping turn the tide to make roads safer,” Gene Boehm, President and CEO of AAA, Inc., said in a recent AAA statement. “As holiday travel picks up and winter weather sets in, the roadways become even more dangerous—especially when impaired driving is added to the mix. Lives are on the line, and together with MADD, we are committed to saving them.”  

How bad are drunk driving accidents during the holidays?

The short answer? Pretty bad. That’s why the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) recently launched its “Sober or Slammer” program aimed at preventing drunk driving accidents throughout South Carolina, according to WCNC News.

Alcohol-related car accidents in South Carolina and across the country often spike from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, making December one of the deadliest months for alcohol-related crashes. In December 2023 alone, drunk drivers killed 1,038 people in drunk driving crashes nationwide, highlighting how serious the risk becomes during the holidays, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the SCDPS.

Here's another sobering statistic – nearly half of fatal drunk driving crashes occur between midnight and 2:59 a.m., when holiday parties and celebrations are most likely to be ending. Younger drivers, particularly those between ages 21 and 34, are involved in a disproportionate number of these fatal crashes, increasing the danger for everyone else on the road during peak travel times, according to WCNC News.

Is drunk driving a problem in South Carolina?

Yes. In fact, South Carolina has more drunk driving accidents than any other state in the country. Last year, a study based on drunk driving accident data for South Carolina ranked the state as the highest for drunk driving accidents in the nation.

Specifically, 43 percent of all car accident fatalities in South Carolina were drunk driving fatalities, according to WIS TV News, based on accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2023, for example, South Carolina drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher killed 413 people. That same year, there were 1,047 car accident fatalities total in South Carolina, according to the most recent NHTSA data.

What is South Carolina doing to prevent drunk driving?

Along with the “Sober or Slammer” campaign, South Carolina officials, AAA, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and Waymo are taking several steps to prevent drunk driving accidents this holiday season in South Carolina and nationwide in some cases. Such steps include:

Increasing enforcement of existing drunk driving laws.
Setting up more sobriety checkpoints.
Educating drivers about the dangers of drunk driving.

“Ending impaired driving requires a collective movement, with each of us playing a part,” Stacey D. Stewart, CEO of MADD, said in a statement released by AAA. “AAA’s commitment to road safety and Waymo’s tech-forward approach align well with MADD’s mission to put an end to impaired driving for good, and we’re thrilled to join forces with both companies in our relentless march towards this purpose.”

Injured by a drunk driver? We can help you demand justice.

Dealing with a crash caused by a drunk driver can be a lot more complicated than many people might suspect. Even if the driver was clearly under the influence of alcohol, don’t be surprised if you have a hard time recovering the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Our South Carolina car accident lawyers at Twenge + Twombley know exactly what to do in such situations. That’s because we have been fighting for the rights of people injured by drunk drivers in South Carolina for years.

Get the law firm that puts your best interests first. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a South Carolina car accident attorney you can count on in a crisis. We represent injury victims in Beaufort County and throughout South Carolina.

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