AAA: Thanksgiving eve dubbed ‘Blackout Wednesday’

Thanksgiving is just days away, a time for families and friends to share meals and memories.

However, AAA Mid-Atlantic is also warning motorists to be extra careful on the road.

Dubbed Blackout Wednesday by AAA, Thanksgiving eve is unofficially called one of the busiest days for high levels of alcohol consumption.

Law enforcement officials say it’s a particularly bad day for alcohol-related or drug-related fatal highway crashes.

During the holidays, AAA reports 45 people are killed by intoxicated motorists a day compared to 28 people a day; however, alcohol is not the only factor contributing to crashes.

“We’re in deer mating season, so we know there are extra deer on the roadway, sometimes inclement weather conditions. We’ve seen lots of wind this weekend, and we’re also seeing more prevalence of marijuana use and prescription drug use,” says Ragina Cooper-Averella, a spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Ragina Cooper-Averella stresses the importance of designating a sober driver or arranging for a cab if people choose to consume alcohol.

This year, about 43 million Americans will travel by car to their vacation spot. That tally includes more than 900,000 Marylanders.