The Demographics of Drunk Driving in the United States

 

Driving Under the Influence is one of the most common crimes in the US. In fact, over 1.5 million people are charged every year. Who are these criminals? DUI affects people of all ages, socio-economic levels, races, and gender, although there is a slightly higher rate for males than females and there are more first time offenders than repeats. The truth is it can happen to anyone. It could happen to you.

 

According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic safety, one in 11 people admit to driving when they believed their blood-alcohol content was over the legal limit, .08 or above. The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration did a similar study and found that 15% of drivers admit to driving under the influence. It is likely that the amount of drivers who actually drank before driving is higher since many might not have believed they were over the legal limit.

 

Drunk driving is pervasive in our society, and the effects can be seen when automobile crashes are investigated. Here are a few interesting statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to consider:

 

• One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash during their lifetime.
• An estimated 10,839 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2009.
• Drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths last year.
• On average, someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving crash about every 50 minutes.
• About 4 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 Americans.
• Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and one out of three of those crashes is alcohol-related.
• Car accidents due to drunk driving are a main cause of death for people from two to thirty-three years old.
• Every day, an average of 1,440 injuries and 29 deaths occur because of drunk driving.
• Drunk driving costs each adult in the U.S. almost $500 per year.
• The amount of people who are killed every year due to alcohol-impaired driving is equal to 21 jumbo jets crashing each year.

 

But the good news is that things are getting better. Organizations such as MADD, changes to laws, and other national efforts have resulted in a 49% decrease in alcohol-related driving deaths since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started keeping track in 1992. You can contribute to these efforts by acting as a designated driver for friends.

 

Drunk driving is much more common on the weekends, and also blood alcohol levels are 5 times as highhigher in the evening at night. So yYou can make a huge difference by being responsible when you are socializing on weekend nights.

 

For many, a DUI is a wake-up call. They may not have taken it seriously if they had a few beers and got behind the wheel, but the charge changes that. Most people who receive a DUI charge do not have an alcohol problem, but they need to change their attitudes about the safety of driving while under the influence. An experienced DUI attorney understands that this is a tough time for you.

 

If you do have a problem with alcohol, they can often connect you with counselors who can help you overcome the issue. They will also work with you to prepare a strong defense. You made a mistake, but you can protect your finances, your freedom, and your driver’s license with the right DUI lawyer. They can work with the prosecutor to find ways that you can avoid jail time, do community service, or take advantage of the many other options available to you, particularly if you are a first time offender. Don’t go it alone. Get professional legal help from a DUI lawyer.