ORLANDO, Fla. — Statistics indicate after years of decline, DUI arrests are increasing on roadways.

Safety advocates and law enforcement agencies working to prevent drunk driving say the holiday period is one of the most dangerous times of the year on the road.

What You Need To Know

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows DUI fatals have increased since the start of the pandemic

  • The trend follows several years of declining DUI fatals attributed to the surge in use of rideshares

  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving says if people are going to be celebrating the holidays by drinking, they need to make decisions on how they’re going to drink responsibly hours or even days before the holiday gathering

“This time of year – the holiday season – things have changed,” says Bill DeMott.

Everything changed in October 2015 when DeMott’s daughter, Keri Anne, was killed in a DUI crash. She was a 20-year-old UCF student. That tragedy changed DeMott’s family – and how they live their lives – forever.

“Someone made a decision that took my daughter’s life, and every day we have make a decision to get up and make that not happen for someone else,” said DeMott.

DeMott formed The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation to bring awareness to the problem, and advocate for other families dealing with similar tragedies.

“What about the people who have been affected that survived, what about the family members that now are survivors of the crash because so many more people are affected by this than just that person or those people,” said DeMott.

After years of steady decline in DUI fatals, attributed to the accessibility of rideshares, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows DUI fatals have increased since the start of the pandemic. And in Orange County, DUI arrests are on track in 2022 to potentially surpass DUI arrests in years prior.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Central Florida says the holidays is one of the times of the year when DUIs spike.

“We are at increased odds of sharing the road with a drunk driver – it’s higher during the holidays,” said Kristi McElroy, Program Director of M.A.D.D. Central Florida.

“From Thanksgiving to New Years - those are the most dangerous days to be out on the roadway. So that’s why we ask everybody please be smart, please help save lives, please make good decisions because this is 100% preventable.”

DeMott drives all over Florida and all over the country even to curb what he sees as a dangerous and disturbing trend.

“It’s become socially acceptable,” said DeMott.  “I think people are numb to the fact this is happening, and as long as it’s not happening to them - it doesn’t exist.”

M.A.D.D. says if people are going to be celebrating the holidays by drinking, they need to make decisions on how they’re going to drink responsibly hours or even days before the holiday gathering. Once at a party and drinking, they say it’s often too late to make smart decisions.