Holiday DUI Trends Over Recent YearsWhat the Data Reveals

Each holiday season, law enforcement prepares for a predictable spike in impaired driving. Even with constant public awareness campaigns, the last decade has shown a steady rise in dangerous decisions behind the wheel, and the latest numbers from the California Highway Patrol prove the trend is still moving in the wrong direction.

During this year’s New Year’s Maximum Enforcement Period, which ran from 6:01 pm on December 31, 2024 through 11:59 pm on January 1, 2025, CHP reported 481 DUI arrests. Officers issued 9,951 citations and took more than 14,000 enforcement actions during the same period. These figures reflect only one holiday window, yet they show how widespread impaired driving remains.

The Christmas enforcement period brought similar concerns. In just 30 hours, five people lost their lives in crashes within CHP jurisdiction, and more than 300 drivers were arrested for DUI. That means an average of one arrest every six minutes. Last year’s New Year’s period was even higher, with 892 DUI arrests during a 78 hour window. For Christmas 2023, CHP made 308 DUI arrests and recorded more than 7,600 enforcement actions statewide.

The problem extends far beyond California. According to NHTSA, 1,038 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in December 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 4,931 people died in December alone due to drunk driving. It is one of the highest totals in the past 15 years. NHTSA also reports that about 25 percent of seriously injured or killed drivers in trauma centers between 2019 and 2021 had active THC in their system, showing that drug impairment is a growing part of the conversation.

Campaigns like Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and If You Feel Different, You Drive Different focus on education and enforcement during the holiday season. The goal is simple. Reduce impaired driving and prevent tragedies before they happen. If you ever see a driver who appears impaired, call 9-1-1 with the vehicle description, plate, location, and direction of travel. Speaking up can save a life.

This trend highlights how important trained servers and bartenders are during the holidays. Responsible beverage service is not just a certification. It is an active role in public safety. It means watching for red flags, slowing service when needed, offering food or water, arranging rides, and refusing service when a guest is clearly impaired. The choices made inside bars, restaurants, and event venues often decide what happens on the roads later. A safe holiday season starts long before someone gets behind the wheel.

Resources: 

Drive Sober This December — And Every Month 

CHP Makes 481 DUI Arrest During New Years

CHP Ramps Up Enforcement for Thanksgiving Weekend

Impaired Driving Facts