From PBS NewsHour.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, or “Blackout Wednesday,” is a big night for friends and family to reconnect, often over alcoholic beverages.

But Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and mixing that with alcohol, can be a deadly combination. In 2023 alone, a third of the fatal crashes the day before Thanksgiving were drunk drivers.

To stay safe this Black Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises everyone to buckle up and avoid drunk driving by using a designated driver, ride-share vehicle, taxi or public transit.

THC in marijuana can also slow reaction time and impair cognitive performance, so NHTSA also advises to not drive while high.

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