The Sobering Truth About Drunk Driving Trends in North Georgia and Tennessee
December is a fun and memorable time near Pritchard Injury Firm's offices in Cartersville and Woodstock, GA, and Chattanooga, TN. We love strolling over to all the local festivities, from lively music festivals to heartwarming holiday events.
Individuals and families travel to and from high-traffic areas during the peak season and participate in the festivities. But some individuals are still getting behind the wheel after drinking or partying too hard. That's why, amid all the holiday celebrations, it's also important to keep in mind the likelihood of drunk drivers on the roads.
Pritchard Injury Firm has litigated countless drunk driving accident cases in North Georgia and Tennessee. In Tennessee and Georgia, a drunk driver's level of intoxication is typically determined by the measurement of blood alcohol content (BAC). A BAC measurement of 0.08% defines the criminal offense.
Let's discuss the real-world stakes when impaired driving causes injury or death.
Tennessee: Persistently High Alcohol-Impaired Crash Rates
Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDoSH) data shows the most recent statewide report covering 2020–2024, demonstrating that alcohol-impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes.
While the overall number of fatalities in Tennessee reportedly dropped in 2024 (per the state dashboard), the persistent ranking of “Alcohol-Impaired Fatal Crash Rates” among the emphasis categories suggests a continuing systemic problem.
Chattanooga is located in Hamilton County, the site of several hundred alcohol-impaired related crashes annually, with 15 fatalities reported in 371 crashes in 2023 and 14 fatalities reported in 321 in 2024.
Narrower data reflecting Christmas week 2024 in Tennessee is not publicly available, but the risk of DWI accidents persists. Even leading up to the holiday last year, DUI-related accidents caused horrific fatalities; Chattanoogan.com reported that on Dec. 17, 2024, the driver of a Honda Civic carrying two females and two males drove at excessive speed westbound on Ringgold Road as the vehicle approached the Bachman Tunnels. The driver lost control of the car and crashed under the pedestrian handrail, nearly splitting the vehicle and killing three passengers. The driver attempted to flee the scene, but police apprehended him near the end of the tunnel. The driver was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and charged with Vehicular Homicide.
Tennessee's legal BAC limit for a DUI remains 0.08, but a new law alters the threshold for enhanced penalties. Since July 1, 2024, a BAC of 0.15 or higher can lead to increased penalties.
North Georgia's 2024 Christmas Holiday Travel Period: Chronicling DWIs
During the December 2024 holiday travel periods, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) investigated several crashes across the state during a 54-hour period that began at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, and ended at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 26.
- Fatalities: There were five fatalities reported on Georgia roads during this period. This was a significant decrease compared to the 2023 Christmas period, which had 16 fatalities statewide.
- Enforcement: GSP Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) Officers maintained a high visibility presence to enforce traffic laws and promote safety. They intend to do the same this year.
Even more recently, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) released preliminary Thanksgiving 2025 Holiday Traffic Counts. Even by 6 a.m. on Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving morning – GSP recorded 57 DUIs and 29 instances of distracted driving on interstates and state roads, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS). By the end of November 30, GDPS reported dramatic increases in citations and crashes:
DUI (citation): 442
Distracted Driving (citation): 680
Total crashes: 498
Total crash injuries: 236
It is also worth noting that 24 of these crashes involved commercial motor vehicles (including trucks). As regularly discussed, trucking wrecks are an ever-present risk on North Georgia's roads, especially in Cartersville, Woodstock and even Chattanooga, TN.
These statistics should be a sobering reminder for safer driving during what should be a joyous time. Hopefully, these bad habits can be curbed for the Christmas holiday break, which is days longer than Thanksgiving.
Actionable Safety Tips for Drivers in GA & TN
To help reduce risk on the roads and prevent tragic outcomes, here are practical steps every driver (and their clients) should consider:
- Plan ahead before drinking. If you anticipate alcohol use (holiday dinners, nights out, social events), arrange a sober ride home — use a ride-share, taxi, or designated driver. Never assume you're aware enough to drive after more than one drink.
- Avoid drowsy driving. Driving on less than five hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 BAC. If you are on less than four hours of sleep, the risk doubles.
- Be especially cautious in rural areas. In Georgia, rural counties recently accounted for the highest number of alcohol-related fatal crashes.
- Avoid driving at high-risk times. Nights, weekends and holiday periods remain the deadliest times for impaired-driving crashes. If you're on the road late at night, stay alert — impaired drivers often drive erratically, speed, or swerve.
- Promote passenger and pedestrian safety. If you're a passenger, always insist your driver be sober. If you walk or ride a bike, stay visible and aware — many fatal crashes involve sober non-impaired victims struck by impaired drivers.
- Support and promote enforcement and public awareness. Participate in local “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns, encourage community-level interventions, and support tougher enforcement.
Drivers in North Georgia and Chattanooga, TN can avoid becoming statistics by following the tips above. If you are the victim of a DUI accident, contact a car accident lawyer to help you recover the maximum compensation for injuries and damages sustained in a DWI/DUI accident.
Your GA/TN Pedestrian and Car Wreck Lawyer
Contact a lawyer if you or your loved one was injured, or died, from an injury caused by the actions of another driver. Pritchard Injury Firm’s North Georgia/TN fatal accident lawyers can evaluate the claim and take steps to build and strengthen your case. It's important to know that drunk driving accidents can result in both civil and criminal charges against the at-fault driver. You can learn more about this distinction here. Contact Pritchard Injury Firm for a free consultation.