Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Alabama’s Holiday DUI Breakdown

By WVUA 23 News reporter Callie Cassady

As the holidays are in full swing, families and friends are traveling near and far to get together and be merry. But those plans are changing in an instant, making it imperative that drivers remain vigilant on the roads.

The University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety reported more than 5,000 accidents and 260 fatalities in Alabama in 2022 caused by impaired driving.

During the nine-day Thanksgiving travel period this year, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency responded to 21 fatalities and charged more than 60 people with driving under the influence.

According to the National Safety Council, Alabama is the second deadliest state during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Northport Police Deputy Chief Keith Carpenter said Northport police, like most law enforcement agencies, increase patrols during peak travel times to prevent potential tragedies.

“It’s one of those times of year where we put an emphasis on making sure we keep as many people away from driving under the influence as possible,” Carpenter said.

If you plan on making alcohol a part of your holiday celebrations, make sure you have a plan in place before the evening begins. Suggestions include:

• Rideshare services like Uber or Lyft or a taxi
• Selecting a specific driver
• If you are celebrating at someone’s home, ask the host to collect the driver’s keys if he is drunk