Facts on Traffic Safety & Alcohol
Every 45 minutes, on average, someone is killed by an alcohol-impaired driver, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. First time offenders have driven under the influence an estimated 87 times before their first DUI offense. The law uses the level of alcohol in your blood to determine if you have committed a crime, but your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle deteriorates before you reach the legal limit.
Other People Are Reading
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Drunk Driving
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chides use of the term "drunk driving." IIHS expresses concern that it proliferates the idea that only visibly drunk drivers are a threat to traffic safety. The group prefers the term "alcohol-impaired driving" because even small amounts of alcohol bring driving skills down to an unsafe level.
Blood Alcohol Concentration
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Blood alcohol concentration refers to the amount of alcohol in a person's blood. All states in the U.S. consider it a crime to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent. According to IIHS, your chances of being involved in a fatal crash increase significantly once your BAC hits 0.05 percent. After 0.08 percent, the risk rises more rapidly. How quickly you hit the legal limit, says IIHS, depends on several factors, include your weight, sex and amount of fat tissue.
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Injury and Death
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MADD claims that 30 percent of Americans will experience an alcohol-related crash at some stage of their lives. Approximately 11,773 people died in alcohol-impaired-related crashes in 2008. IIHS notes that, in 2008, about one-third of fatally injured drivers had a BAC at or above the legal limit. Most fatal alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents occur at night and in the early morning hours. The most deadly period, according to IIHS, is midnight to 3 a.m.
Young Drivers
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MADD notes that of the 159 million alcohol-impaired driving trips taken in 2002, more than 10 percent were conducted by 18-to-20 year olds. While teens are less likely to drive after drinking, IIHS explains that when they do, their accident risk skyrockets. Male drivers, ages 16 to 20, with BACs between 0.05 and 0.08 are 17 times more likely to die in single-vehicle crashes than sober teenage drivers. Females in the same age group are seven times more likely to die. With BACs between 0.08 and 0.10, the risk is 52 times greater for males and 15 times for females.
Laws
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As noted, all states consider driving with a BAC at or above 0.08 a crime. As of March 2010, IIHS reports that more than half of U.S. states require DUI offenders to install ignition interlocks on their vehicles. These devices measure a person's BAC to check for sobriety before the car will start. Thirteen states, including New York, place this stipulation on all offenders, including first-timers, notes IIHS. As of March 2010, 41 states suspend the offender's license after a DUI offense. In some cases, driving privileges are reinstated if an offender can prove "special hardship."
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References
- Photo Credit driving into the unknown image by Daniel Ighisan from Fotolia.com
