No 'fowl' play: Drive sober this Thanksgiving weekend

AAA urges drivers to plan ahead to prevent impaired driving

By AAA of Western and Central New York

AAA forecasts that 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period, spanning Tuesday, Nov. 25, through Monday, Dec. 1. This marks an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to last year, and sets a new all-time record for Thanksgiving travel.

Roadways will see the vast majority of this volume, with 73 million people expected to travel by car – nearly 90% of all holiday travelers and 1.3 million more drivers than last Thanksgiving. As travel ramps up, law enforcement agencies across the country are also preparing for heightened traffic and increased activity around bars and nightclubs on Thanksgiving eve, one of the busiest nights of the year for social drinking.

AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are reminding all travelers of the life-threatening risks associated with impaired driving. This time of year is especially dangerous on the roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 868 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving holiday periods from 2019-23, representing 35% of all traffic fatalities during those time frames.

“AAA advises drivers to have a plan in place before Thanksgiving, and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transportation to ensure everyone’s safety,” said AAA WCNY Driver Training Manager Mike Formanowicz.

Even small amounts of alcohol can impact driving ability. Here’s how consuming one 12-ounce beer per hour can affect a 150-pound adult:

•After one drink (BAC: 0.02%-0.03%) – lowered inhibitions; judgment begins to be affected; coordination may also decline.

•After two drinks (BAC: 0.04%-0.05%) – slower reaction time; the person may appear relaxed and friendly; reaction time slows.

•After three drinks (BAC: 0.06%-0.07%) – impaired judgment; clear thinking diminishes; reasoning is less reliable; reaction time decreases further.

•After four drinks (BAC: 0.08%-0.09%) – impaired motor skills and senses; speech, vision, hearing and balance become adversely affected; reaction time is significantly slowed.

•After five drinks (BAC: 0.10%-0.11%) – major behavioral impairments; slurred speech, poor coordination, and difficulty walking are common.

•After 12 drinks (BAC: ~0.30%) – risk of coma; passing out is common. BAC may continue rising while unconscious; at 0.40%, coma or death can occur.

Impaired driving is not limited to alcohol. AAA research shows that marijuana use can significantly impair driving ability, and usage is increasing with recreational marijuana now legal in more than half of U.S. states, including New York. Despite legalization, it remains illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana.

Drivers who combine alcohol and marijuana pose an even greater danger. According to data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, those who use both substances are substantially more likely to speed, text while driving, run red lights, and exhibit aggressive driving behaviors.

AAA WCNY does not participate in the Safe Ride/Tipsy Tow program available in some other regions. Travelers can find more safety information at: AAA.com/ImpairedDriving.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 866,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.