How Many People Die Of Drunk Driving Every Year?

How Many People Die from Drunk Driving Every Year? 

Even though it is illegal to drive while drunk, many people are still arrested for driving under the influence. It is estimated that more than one million drivers are arrested for DUI each year. However, the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities has been declining over the last few decades. 

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While the number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths is alarming, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of being involved in one. These include drinking responsibly, riding with a designated driver, and taking advantage of ridesharing apps. 

Another way to improve drunk driving statistics is to lower the legal BAC level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one in three car accidents involves a driver with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit. Those drivers are seven times more likely to be involved in a deadly car crash than non-drunk drivers. A lower BAC level could prevent more of more than 100,000 drunk driving deaths that occur each year. 

While some argue that current drunk driving awareness is enough to protect drivers from deadly accidents, there is no doubt that it is a serious problem. Drunk driving accounts for approximately 28% of all traffic-related fatalities. It is also the second most common human factor in fatal car crashes. 

The legal definition of drunk driving is a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08 percent. The percentage of DUI drivers with a BAC over 0.15% has increased. In addition, more than a third of all drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were under the age of 21. Those under the age of 16 represent the most at-risk age group. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one person is killed or seriously injured every 50 minutes in the United States due to a drunk driver. The numbers vary by state, gender, and age, but in most cases, one in three drivers is legally drunk. 

While the number of people who die in drunk driving crashes is shocking, it is important to note that the number of drunk driving arrests is not. Those who are caught in a drunk driving accident are often repeated offenders. If you are arrested for DUI, it is not uncommon for you to be sentenced to probation or community service. A significant number of arrests are for people who are under the legal drinking age. 

Although the number of drunk driving fatalities has decreased over the last few years, the problem is not going away. The number of motor vehicle fatalities in 2020 will be the highest in more than a decade. This is because the number of vehicles on the road has risen steadily since the 1990s. This means more drivers on the road, putting more drivers at risk of being in a deadly car crash. 

The number of children who are involved in drunk driving crashes is also alarming. In 2010, there were 2,344 child deaths in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Health. Moreover, 17% of road fatalities among children aged 0 to 14 involved drunk drivers.