Fiesta San Antonio and Drunk Driving: What the Numbers Say, What You Can Do, and Why It Matters
Every year during Fiesta San Antonio, drunk driving crashes spike across the city. Approximately 100 DWI-related crashes occur during Fiesta's 11-day celebration, and 13 people have died in DWI crashes during the last six Fiestas alone. In 2024, there were 72 DUI-related fatalities in the San Antonio area, and statewide, Texas recorded more than 22,000 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 988 deaths. Fiesta is our celebration. But for too many families, it becomes the worst 11 days of the year because someone made the choice to drive drunk.
The Rule Is Simple: Don't Drive Drunk
This is not a suggestion. It is not a mere guideline. Under Texas law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated, period. Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 makes it a crime. And the reason that law exists is to protect every single man, woman, and child on our roads.
That includes your family heading to NIOSA. That includes your kids in the backseat on the way home from the parade. That includes every person walking down Broadway after the Battle of Flowers. The obligation to drive sober is not just about the driver. It is about everyone else on the road who trusted that other drivers would follow the rules.
Fiesta and Drunk Driving: The Numbers That Matter
My friends, I want you to see these numbers. Not to scare you. To inform you. Because information is how we protect ourselves and the people we love.
How many DWI crashes happen during Fiesta San Antonio?
Approximately 100 DWI-related crashes occur during Fiesta every single year. That is roughly nine crashes per day across those 11 days. During the 2024 Fiesta alone, 114 DWI arrests were made (the lowest in five years, and still 114 too many). And despite that "improvement," one person was killed in an intoxication manslaughter crash during Fiesta 2024. The driver tested positive for alcohol, cannabinoids, cocaine, and fentanyl.
How many people have died from drunk driving during Fiesta?
Thirteen people have been killed in DWI crashes during the last six years of Fiesta in San Antonio. Thirteen families who went into Fiesta celebrating and came out burying someone they loved. That is not a statistic. Those are real people. Someone's mother. Someone's kid. Someone's best friend.
What about the rest of the year in San Antonio?
San Antonio sees more than 2,300 drunk driving crashes every year, resulting in roughly 75 fatalities and at least 110 incapacitating injuries. San Antonio ranks as the fifth-worst city in Texas for DWI incidents. Across the state, Texas recorded 22,000 alcohol-related crashes in 2024, killing 988 people. That breaks down to an average of 65 alcohol-related crashes every single day. Three Texans die from drunk driving every day. Let that sit for a second.
Do drunk driving crashes increase during holidays and festivals?
Yes. According to NHTSA data, DUI-related deaths are 65% higher during holiday periods than the rest of the year. Major Texas events like Fiesta, the Houston Rodeo, and SXSW all see significant spikes in alcohol-related crashes. This is not a coincidence. It is a pattern. And patterns can be broken, but only if people make different choices.
Why Fiesta Creates a Perfect Storm for Drunk Driving
I love Fiesta. I truly mean that. It is one of the things that makes San Antonio the incredible city it is. The culture, the food, the music, the energy. There is nothing like it. But we need to be honest about why Fiesta creates conditions that put people at risk.
Fiesta runs for 11 straight days. That is 11 consecutive nights of events where alcohol flows freely. NIOSA, Oyster Bake, Fiesta Flambeau, the King William Fair. Multiple events overlap on the same nights, which means more people on the roads, more people drinking, and more chances for someone to make a terrible decision. Add in crowded streets, pedestrians everywhere, unfamiliar routes for visitors, and you have a situation where even a "buzzed" driver is a weapon.
Bexar County Commissioners recognized this reality just this week, passing a resolution designating April 2026 as Alcohol Awareness Month specifically to address the intersection of Fiesta and impaired driving. That tells you everything you need to know about how serious this is.
This Is Not Just About the Driver. This Is About You.
When someone gets behind the wheel drunk after leaving NIOSA, they are not just risking their own life. They are playing a game of Russian roulette with every single person on that road. The family driving home from dinner. The college kid walking back to their apartment. The rideshare driver trying to make a living. The off-duty nurse coming home after a 12-hour shift. None of those people consented to the risk. None of them had a say. One person made one choice, and every person in their path paid the price for it.
That is why accountability matters. It is not about punishment. It is about enforcing the safety rules that protect all of us. When a drunk driver faces consequences (criminal, civil, or both), it sends a message: our community does not tolerate choices that endanger innocent people. That is how we keep each other safe.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family During Fiesta
Here is what I tell my own family, my friends, everyone I care about. And my friends, I truly care about this community.
Plan your ride home before you leave the house. Uber, Lyft, a designated driver, a cab. Whatever it is, lock it in before the first drink. Not after. Before.
If you see someone about to drive drunk, say something. Take their keys. Call them a ride. Be the person who cares enough to be uncomfortable for five minutes. You might save a life.
Stay off the roads late at night during Fiesta if you can. The highest-risk hours for DWI crashes are between midnight and 3 AM. If you don't have to be out, don't be.
Wear your seatbelt. Every single time. You cannot control what other drivers do. You can control whether you are buckled in.
If you are hit by a drunk driver, document everything. Photos of the vehicles, the road conditions, the skid marks, everyone's insurance info, contact information, email addresses, license plates, etc. Call 911 immediately. Do not let anyone leave the scene.
Know your rights. If you or someone you love is injured by a drunk driver, you have the right to hold that person accountable. In Texas, you may also have a claim against the bar, restaurant, or establishment that over-served them (this is called a dram shop claim under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code). You do not have to navigate this alone.
A Personal Message from Guy Muller
My friends, please enjoy Fiesta. Eat the chicken on a stick. Dance all day and night and watch the parades. Make the memories. This city deserves every ounce of the joy and positive vibe that Fiesta brings. But please, do it responsibly. A $20 Uber ride is nothing compared to the cost of a DWI arrest (which can run $10,000 to $25,000 in fines, legal fees, and increased insurance). And that is the BEST-case scenario. The worst case? Someone doesn't come home.
I have seen what drunk driving does to families. I have sat at the table with people whose entire world was shattered because someone decided they were "fine to drive." I have worked cases throughout my career where a 10-minute Uber ride would have changed everything. The grief is real. The damage is permanent. And it is 100% preventable.
If you or someone you love is ever hurt by a drunk driver (during Fiesta or any other time), know that you have options. You have rights. And you have people in your corner who will fight for you. That is what we do. That is why this firm exists. Not to chase cases, but to protect the community we love.
Be safe. Look out for each other. Enjoy Fiesta.
We are here, and we are ready.
Guy Muller
Guy Muller Injury Law | San Antonio, Texas
