Kurt Erickson with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program says impaired-driving fatalities rose 8.5 percent last year. While Fredericksburg, Stafford and King George recorded fewer drunk-driving crashes overall, injuries spiked—up 40 percent in Fredericksburg and tripling in King George from 2023 to 2024.
Erickson urges people to plan a ride home before celebrations begin, use SoberRide in Northern Virginia, host responsibly by offering non-alcoholic options, always wear a seat belt, call #77 to report suspected drunk drivers, and remember that one safe decision can prevent a life-changing crash. wrap.org
