What Percentage Of Accidents Are Caused By Drunk Driving?

What Percentage of Accidents Are Caused by Drunk Driving? 

Depending on where you live, the number of alcohol-related car crashes may vary. There are a few factors that contribute to alcohol-impaired driving accidents. For instance, alcohol affects the driver’s reaction time and depth perception. It also reduces a driver’s ability to properly judge distances, understands traffic signs, and react to other drivers’ actions. Aside from reducing a driver’s ability to perform essential functions, alcohol can also cause drowsiness, impaired coordination, and impaired memory. These factors increase the risk of a fatal crash, so it is important to drink responsibly. If you or a loved one is injured in a drunk driving accident, contact an attorney to determine if you have a legal claim. A single DUI can boost your insurance rate by more than 73%, so it is important to know what your rights are. 

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While drunk driving has long been an issue for drivers, recent statistics have shown that the rate of fatal crashes caused by drunk driving has decreased. In fact, from 1991 to 2017, the rate of drunk driving fatalities declined by almost 50 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 10,497 drunk driving deaths occurred in the U.S. in 2016. This represents approximately 28 percent of all traffic deaths. 

The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes occurred among passenger car drivers, while light truck drivers and motorcycle riders had the lowest. In 2020, the total number of alcohol-related traffic deaths was estimated to be 11,654; this represents approximately 30 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. 

The average age of drivers involved in fatal alcohol-impaired crashes is 25-34 years old. However, the number of people who die in alcohol-impaired driving crashes varies by age and gender. Aside from the age and gender of drivers, the amount of alcohol that they consume can also affect the number of crashes that they are involved in. 

While alcohol-related traffic deaths are estimated to decrease in the coming years, drunk driving is still a significant cause of traffic crashes. As a result, drunk drivers are a serious threat to the safety of the public. More than 97,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes due to alcohol in 2016. Moreover, a drunk driver’s behavior can put everyone else on the road in danger. 

Drunk driving causes approximately two injuries every two minutes in New York State. That’s why it’s important to arrange a designated driver or rideshare service if you or a loved one plans on drinking a lot. In addition to preventing drunk driving accidents, arranging a ride can also help you stay safe at home. 578 vehicles are damaged every day because of drunk driving accidents. 

Drivers under the legal drinking age are particularly susceptible to drunk driving crashes. 1 in every 5 children aged 14 or younger dies from a vehicular collision caused by a drunk driver. Aside from reducing a driver’s reaction time and depth perception, alcohol also affects a driver’s vision.