How To Stop Drunk Driving?
What Percent of Car Accidents Are Caused by Drunk Drivers?
Did you know that more than 17,000 car accidents each year are caused by drunk drivers? Did you also know that repeat offender are more likely to drink and drive? And that the Baby Boomer generation is the most likely demographic to drink and drive. Here’s more information about these statistics. Read on to learn how drunk driving is affecting our nation. In 2020, there were 41-holiday fatalities and 412 alcohol-related accidents.
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Drinking and driving causes more than 17,000 car accidents each year
Drinking and driving causes more than 17,000 deaths and injuries every year in the United States. One person dies on the road every 30 minutes due to a drunk driver, and in New York State alone, there are about 310 deaths per week. While the numbers are staggering, these numbers are decreasing. Depending on the region, age group, and gender of the driver, the number of deaths and injuries resulting from drunk driving varies dramatically. However, one thing remains consistent: drunk drivers kill more people than sober drivers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and National Safety Council regularly research drunk driving. These reports and fact sheets can help you understand the statistics and the best practices to reduce this issue. For example, you can get a list of statistics and proven strategies to reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities in your state.
Repeat offenders are more likely to drink and drive
Repeat offenders should not be allowed to drive until they have completed rehabilitation. They should also be given stricter penalties, including doubled fines, rehabilitation treatments, or mandatory jail time. This would increase the incentive for repeat offenders to find sober rides and stay clean. Fortunately, the majority of states now require repeat offenders to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. While the circumstances can vary, these devices have saved more than three million lives in the past 12 years.
Repeat offenders face greater risks than first-time offenders when it comes to drunk driving. In addition to a higher risk of having an accident while intoxicated, repeat offenders are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes. Studies have shown that repeat offenders have a 4.1-times greater chance of being involved in a fatal crash than first-time offenders.
Baby boomers are most likely to drink and drive
The highest rise in alcohol and drug misuse over the past 15 years has been among the baby boomers – the generation between the ages of 50 and 70. And that trend is playing out on Britain’s roads. The latest data on road casualties includes standard statistics on drunk-drive accidents, roadside breath test casualties, and fatalities from drunk driving. The good news is that the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by drink-driving fell to their lowest levels ever in 2017.
The survey found that the largest group of drivers that drink and drive are the Baby Boomers (aged 55 to 75). Nearly a third of those surveyed believe they need three or four alcoholic drinks to be unable to drive while over 6.1% said it takes five or more drinks to be unable to drive. The study also found that a majority of the respondents believe DUI should result in a temporary license suspension.