"Just One Drink" Drunk Driving That Destroys Families on Holidays

A long-awaited reunion drink with family and relatives
If you let your guard down and drive, it can lead to a major accident
Be cautious of "hangover driving" if you are not completely sober

A holiday when you meet family and relatives for the first time in a while. As joy builds up and drinks are shared in a cheerful atmosphere, it is easy to let your guard down and think, "One drink should be fine." It must be remembered that drunk driving is a clear crime, and a single moment of carelessness can lead to an irreversible accident.

According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority on February 16, traffic accidents involving drunk driving tend to be concentrated during the Lunar New Year holiday every year. Between 2020 and 2024, out of a total of 1,004,265 traffic accidents, 71,279 (7.1%) involved drunk driving, and during the Lunar New Year holiday period, 810 out of 7,226 accidents (11.2%) were attributed to drunk driving. Considering that the Lunar New Year holiday lasted 4 to 5 days each year during this period, this means that an average of 32 traffic accidents per day were caused by drunk driving.

Police Special Crackdown on Drunk Driving. Reporter Heo Younghan

Drunk driving is not a simple traffic violation. A temporary decline in judgment and slower reaction times sharply increase the likelihood of an accident. Roads are especially congested during the holidays, as vehicles heading to and from hometowns crowd the highways all at once. There are many more unpredictable situations than usual, and even a small mistake can easily lead to a major accident.

"Hangover driving" is no exception. It is not uncommon for the effects of alcohol consumed throughout the night to linger into the morning. Even if you feel perfectly fine, you must not drive if the alcohol in your body has not been completely broken down. Regardless of whether you are caught, drunk driving can result in horrific accidents and lead to criminal punishment and compensation for damages, consequences that are extremely difficult to bear.

Above all, the greatest cost is borne by people. Drunk driving accidents can completely upend the lives of victims and their families. Perpetrators must also endure the aftermath of a criminal record, social stigma, and the collapse of both workplace and family. In other words, drinking during the holidays for enjoyment can, in the worst case, turn into a tragedy in which you may never see your family again.

The prevention method is not complicated. If you have been drinking, do not get behind the wheel.