Drunk Driving: The Dangers Of Alcohol

Other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians may be injured and emotionally traumatized in accidents as well. A recent study that looked at 15 years of U.S. crash data found that about 15% of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities involve drivers with a BAC below 0.08%. In more than half of incidents where this occurred, the drinking driver was not the one who died (8). It’s crucial for individuals to understand the potential consequences of their actions and make responsible choices when it comes to drinking and driving. This includes planning ahead, using alternative transportation options, and intervening if a friend or loved one is considering driving while impaired. Alcohol-related crime are commonly committed in populations with high rates of alcoholism.

As the year comes to a close and a new one begins, make it a point to drive safely — and drive sober — every day. The 2016 fatal traffic crash data became available late in the study process (October 2017); however, in-depth analyses had not yet been completed during the writing of this report. When 2016 analyses were not available, 2015 (or most recent) data were used. The percentage of drivers under age 21 who had BACs of 0.10 or higher fell from 4.1 to 0.3 percent, representing the greatest proportional decline for any age group. Among 21- to 25-year-olds, the proportion of drivers with BACs of 0.10 percent or higher decreased from 5.7 to 3.8 percent. If you are convicted of a DWI or DUI offense, your insurance rates will likely increase dramatically.

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Since 1982 the number of male drivers in alcohol-related fatal crashes declined 37 percent, from 19,478 to 12,270, whereas the number of female drivers only declined 22 percent, from 2,854 to 2,216. Thirteen percent of the respondents were diagnosed as having been alcohol dependent at some point in their lives. This group represented 65 percent of those who had ever been in a motor vehicle crash because of having too much to drink (based on self-report) and 72 percent of those who had been in alcohol-related crashes during the year prior to the interview. Clearly, people who meet consequences of drinking and driving established alcohol dependence criteria are disproportionately involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, accounting for approximately two-thirds of motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol (Hingson et al. 2002). Drivers between the ages of 16 and 20, and especially those ages 21 to 45, are likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes at a rate that is out of proportion to their percentage of the population. Although 14 percent of drivers in alcohol-related fatal crashes in 2002 were between 16 and 20, this age group represents only 7 percent of the population.

Utilizing designated drivers and ride-sharing services is a practical and effective way to prevent drunk driving. Designated drivers abstain from alcohol to ensure a safe journey for themselves and others. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft provide convenient alternatives to driving under the influence, making it easier for individuals to make responsible choices. With the exception of life or death emergencies, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drunk drivers gain very little from choosing to drive while intoxicated. Most cases of driving under the influence occur because the driver in question has had too much to drink and does not wish to suffer the inconvenience of leaving their car at home or finding an alternative means of transport to get home from a party or event. In most states, even a first-offense DUI will cost the driver at least $500 in fines.

Reducing Drinking and Driving

Even if you plan to face the charges and plead guilty, an experienced lawyer can help you determine how best to handle the situation in court. Making a mistake on this level can mean the difference between losing your license instead of just facing a fine. If you do make the mistake of drinking and driving, then get pulled over and read as over 80 on the police’s test, you should make sure to take certain steps to provide yourself with the best possible defense.

• You can use a technique of examining each individual decision you made in the past that led to a specific outcome, such as driving under the influence.
• Despite reductions in alcohol-related traffic fatalities since the early 1980s, alcohol remained a factor in 41 percent of the traffic deaths recorded in the United States in 2002.
• However, alcohol can start to affect many of your senses after only one drink.
• The threshold for legal intoxication is typically when a breath, blood or urine test registers a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08%.
• Families and loved ones left behind experience unimaginable grief, anger, and a sense of injustice.
• For example, they may be tempted to use their phone or send a text instead of keeping their eyes on the road.