Drunk driving is a serious problem in our country and has claimed many lives over the years. Despite all of the education campaigns and strict penalties for drunk driving infractions, people are still getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
Drinking impairs your ability to drive safely by slowing down a person's reaction time to things happening on the road around them as well as their overall ability to maneuver a car or truck properly. It also impacts how alert an individual is with their vision, body senses such as touch, sound and smell; and motor skills including steering control, judgment and coordination.
We are going to look at some drunk driving facts and statistics on drunk driving. Everyone knows that drunk driving is a bad thing, but many people do not realize the full scope of the problem.
It’s important to understand that drunk driving is a wide-spread, far-reaching problem, and that it will likely touch all us at some point in our lives.
Do these statistics on drunk driving surprise you? They surprised us. Do they scare you? They should.
Who is Most at Risk?
Those who drive drunk are typically males, ages 21-34. The largest demographic that drives under the influence is 18- to 34-year-old men.
The more times a person has been caught driving while intoxicated, the greater the risk for future poor decision-making related to drinking and driving.The statistics show that the more times a person is arrested for drunk driving, the greater their chances of being arrested again for the same crime.
In many cases where a death occurs as a result of someone's decision to get behind the wheel after drinking heavily, it is often no surprise to family members who have previously tried to stop them but felt helpless or ignored by the person they love most.
In addition, many people are completely unaware of their loved one's inability to control themselves after drinking too much alcohol.
There are many sad stories where families were forced to deal with the loss of a family member who was killed by someone who made a very bad decision that cost a life.
Sadly, these travesties are all too common in our country and we need to do more as a nation and as families to curb this problem!
What Are the Consequences of Drunk Driving?
Drunk driving consequences can include everything from getting injured or killed in an accident caused by drunk drivers as well as being convicted of drunk driving charges resulting in jail time and other penalties including fines, loss of driver's license, higher car insurance rates (if applicable), and more.
Drunk Driving Laws
There are currently 48 states in the U.S. that have adopted laws against drunk driving, with each state having their own set of rules and penalties for breaking those laws. For example, most states will suspend a person's driver license after they've been convicted of a certain number of offenses related to drinking and driving.
In addition, some states will revoke a driver license if an individual receives three convictions on their record within five or ten years; other states impose an additional penalty when one is convicted of DUI resulting in the death of another person (which can result in double the jail time).
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes at insurance companies as well as throughout local courts to keep track of who has been convicted or involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Everyone wants the drunk driving facts to improve. What can be done about these drunk driving facts, though?
There are many options available for improving statistics on drunk driving, some of which are already in place. Since 1980, alcohol-related fatalities have decreased by about 40%. Clearly what is being done is working. Yet, as you can see from the drunk driving facts listed above, there is much more to be done.
As we have previously mentioned,many states have laws mandating jail time even for first offenses of driving while intoxicated. They may also require alcohol education programs or treatment programs. They usually suspend the driver’s license of offenders.
They may also impound the cars of offenders. Laws are also cracking down on underage drinkers.
While there are things law enforcement can do to improve drunk driving facts,there are things we can do as individuals, as well.
Here are some simple measures you can take to help prevent drunk driving.
There are several helpful resources available to people struggling with alcoholism. Contact a treatment provider today.
Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LPC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
More than drunk driving facts on our consequences of drunk driving page