Case Study: Most Dangerous Holidays for Drinking and Driving in New Mexico

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 people in die in drunk driving accidents each day. This statistic amounts to one death every 50 minutes.

While national deaths related to drunk driving have decreased over the years, these numbers are still extremely concerning.

Unfortunately, New Mexico is no exception to these statistics. According to the CDC statistics regarding drunk driving in New Mexico:

• 1,254 people were killed in crashes involving drunk drivers in New Mexico between 2003 and 2012;
• The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in New Mexico was higher than the national average for all age groups in 2012; and
• A 2012 study reported that 1.2% of New Mexico drivers admitted that they had driven after drinking too much in the past 30 days.

Drunk driving in New Mexico, especially around the holidays, remains a significant problem that leads to too many deaths in the state each year.

You might be wondering, are there dangerous holidays to drink and drive in New Mexico?

The short answer is that it is always dangerous to drink and drive, and doing so should never be tolerated.

The fact does remain that New Mexico drunk driving statistics do increase around certain holidays throughout the year.

Thus, it is essential to know what those holidays are, so you know what to expect to protect yourself and your passengers better.

This case study will take you through the most dangerous holidays in New Mexico for drinking and driving so that you can plan accordingly and avoid becoming another statistic.

If you or a loved one is a victim of an accident arising out of drunk driving in New Mexico, you have rights and may be entitled to compensation.

Contact Parnall Law today to discuss your case in more detail and see how we can help you recover.

Most Dangerous Holidays for Drunk Driving in New Mexico

It’s no secret that people tend to increase their alcohol consumption over the holidays. While this isn’t a problem in moderation and when done responsibly, it inevitably does lead to drunk driving accidents around the holidays.

However,  are there certain holidays that are more dangerous than others for drunk driving accidents?

Statistically speaking, the answer is yes, and the results may surprise you.

Below are the most dangerous holidays to drink and drive in New Mexico; in order of most to fewest alcohol-involved crashes from 2012-2018:

• Columbus Day (also referred to as Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 181
• Memorial Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 129
• Labor Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 127
• MLK Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 122
• Fourth of July
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 112
• Halloween
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 107
• Easter
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 103
• President’s Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 95 
• Thanksgiving
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 88
• Veteran’s Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 78
• New Year’s
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 77 
• The Super Bowl
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 43
• St. Patrick’s Day
  • Alcohol-Related Crashes – 40

Each year, drunk driving in New Mexico results in injuries and even death around the holidays.

Don’t let this happen to you or a loved one. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let others drink and drive either.

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New Mexico Drunk Driving Stats: Most Dangerous Cities for Drunk Driving in New Mexico

So which cities are the most dangerous when it comes to drunk driving in New Mexico? In this study, we sought to answer precisely that question.

We analyzed crash data for alcohol-involved accidents between 2014 and 2018 for various cities in New Mexico to figure this out.

We then took these numbers to find the rate of alcohol-involved crashes per 1,000 residents for each city to determine the most “dangerous” cities for drunk driving in New Mexico.

#1 Gallup, NM

36.5 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Gallup, NM, comes in at #1 on the list with a staggering 36.5 crashes per 1,000 residents. The city averages 90 alcohol-involved crashes each year.

#2 Taos, NM

33.5 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

With only a total population of roughly 6,000, Taos coming in at #2 might be surprising. This data emphasizes the fact that an alcohol-involved accident can occur virtually anywhere at any time. Even small cities are not immune.

#3 Shiprock, NM

22.9 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

In the Northwest corner of New Mexico is Shiprock, which is #3 on the list. At 22.9 crashes per 1,000 residents, this small New Mexico city remains a dangerous location for drunk driving in New Mexico.

#4 Zuni Pueblo, NM

22.2 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Zuni Pueblo is another small city in New Mexico that is high on our list. While alcohol-involved crashes fell from 2014 to 2015 by more than half, they are back on the rise in more recent years.

#5 Ruidoso, NM

21.7 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Ruidoso is the fifth most dangerous city in New Mexico for drunk driving accidents, with 21.7 crashes per 1,000 residents.

#6 Farmington, NM

16.5 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

At #6 in terms of alcohol-involved crashes, Farmington is also the second most populous city on the list, with a total population of roughly 45,000.

#7 Española, NM

15.9 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Nearly 200 miles from Farmington is Española, with a total population of only around 10,000, it still comes in at #7 on this list. Each year, it averages just over 20 alcohol-involved crashes.

#8 Bernalillo, NM

14.8 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents 

Bernalillo, NM, is #8 on the list, averaging 12.6 drunk driving accidents each year, with a population of just over 10,000 residents, this figure remains quite concerning.

#9 Santa Fe, NM

14.5 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Santa Fe is the most populous city on our list, with more than 80,000 residents, and while it’s farther down the list in terms of crashes per 1,000 residents, it still averages more than 100 alcohol-involved crashes each year.

#10 Carlsbad, NM

14.3 Crashes Per 1,000 Residents

Carlsbad, NM, takes the tenth and final spot, with 14.3 alcohol-involved crashes per 1,000 residents. With nearly 30,000 residents, Carlsbad averages a total of 37.2 drunk driving accidents each year.

Contact a New Mexico Drunk Driving Auto Accident Attorney Today

Holidays are supposed to be some of the most joyous times of the year, but a driver’s careless actions can quickly turn your world upside down.

The holiday drunk driving statistics are gravely concerning, but we can and should all strive to refrain from driving while under the influence of alcohol. Doing so might save a life!

Unfortunately, no matter how safe you are behind the wheel, you can’t always prevent another person from driving drunk. In those cases, you may have a right to seek compensation.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in New Mexico, Parnall Law is here to help. No matter where or when your accident occurred, our team can help you assess your case and determine whether you may be entitled to bring a drunk driving injury lawsuit in New Mexico.

We are an aggressive injury law firm that will fight for your rights to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our team today for a free consultation to discuss your case and start the process toward your recovery.

Data collected from: https://gps.unm.edu/tru/index.html