How Many Drunk Driving Accidents Per Day Are Caused by Alcohol?
Despite recent improvements, drunk driving continues to be a major problem for drivers in the U.S., according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a drunk driver kills one person every 45 minutes. Fortunately, drunk driving is a preventable problem. Approximately 2/3 of all drivers will be involved in a drunk driving crash at some point in their lifetime.
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Alcohol-related car crashes are also responsible for thousands of injuries every year. A DUI conviction will typically result in a 123% increase in insurance costs. In addition, drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol with a child 14 or younger could be subject to up to 4.5 years in prison. A first-offense DUI can also cost up to $10,000 in fines.
Alcohol-related car crashes cost the economy $44 billion a year. In addition, drunk drivers are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths annually. These are just a few of the many reasons why drunk driving is a serious issue. However, drunk driving is not just dangerous for drivers; it is also a huge issue for the communities in which they live.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher is considered impaired. The average driver has driven over 80 times before being pulled over for drunk driving. When a driver is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, the first offender faces a prison sentence of up to 4.5 years. If a person has a second or third felony DUI, they could face up to six years in prison.
The number of drunk driving fatalities is rising in recent years. In 2010, the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities rose by 34 percent. In addition, the number of drivers who died in alcohol-related crashes increased by 12% during the last half of December. The New Year’s holiday saw the largest spike in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. In 2014, 51% of car-crash fatalities that occurred on New Year’s Day were attributed to drunk drivers.
In the summer months, the risk of getting into a drunk driving accident increases. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most fatal drunk driving crashes occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. On the weekends, the risk increases even more. 31% of fatal drunk driving crashes happen on the weekends.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women are much less likely to drive while under the influence of alcohol than men. Women are also more likely to be severely injured in crashes. In addition, the age of drivers involved in fatal drunk driving crashes is lower for women than it is for men. Drivers aged 25 to 34 account for 25% of all fatal alcohol-impaired crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported more than 10,000 drunk driving deaths from 2006 to 2016. In addition, there were 11,654 alcohol-related deaths in 2020. In addition, the NHTSA reported that the number of alcohol-related crashes involving children climbed to more than 230 in 2018.