7 Times More People Die in a Drunk Driving Crash Than Sober Drivers
Did you know that 7 times more people die in a drunk driving crash than sober drivers? And about 10% of all drunk driving fatalities are children? According to MADD, an alcohol awareness organization, most drivers in the United States are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving. 65% of drivers say they are “very concerned” about drunk driving.
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Deaths caused by drunk driving in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drunk driving accounts for more than one in five traffic fatalities nationwide. Over the past decade, alcohol-related crashes have claimed the lives of nearly 17,000 people. These deaths are more likely to occur in urban areas than in rural ones. Drunk driving is illegal in every state. According to statistics, one person dies every half-hour from drunk driving crashes.
The number of drunk driving deaths has steadily decreased over the last decade. According to the CDC, the number of alcohol-impaired crashes fell by 14% from 2004 to 2014. While there was a decline in fatal traffic accidents among young people, the number of accidents involving older people was on the rise. Overall, alcohol-impaired driving killed nearly 97,000 people in 2014.
Number of fatalities caused by drunk driving in each state
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and fatalities in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 10,000 people died from drunk driving between 2006 and 2016. As of 2016, drunk driving was responsible for 22% of all traffic fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks over 34,000 fatal crashes to determine the drunk driving fatality rate in each state. In 2018, nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities in the US involved alcohol. This information is used to rank each state on the number of fatalities caused by drunk driving.
Number of fatalities caused by drunk driving on holidays
Statistics show that Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the deadliest holidays for drunk driving accidents. While Christmas Day is the most popular holiday for drinking, Thanksgiving also has its share of fatal accidents. Last year, over 140 people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes. In addition, Blackout Wednesday, a night when people get together to drink, is also a major cause of drunken driving accidents. More people die on holidays than on any other day of the year.
According to ValuePenguin, 27% of holiday-related crashes result in fatalities. While local roads account for a quarter of holiday-related crashes, state highways accounted for almost half. Between 2010 and 2018, an estimated 745 people were killed in alcohol-impaired car crashes. While the number of fatalities has remained relatively stable over the years, it is still a cause for concern.
Number of repeat offenders convicted of drunk driving
According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than one-third of all DUI arrests are repeat offenders. Repeat offenders are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. These statistics show that if we could prevent repeat DUI offenders from driving, we could save thousands of lives each year.
While it is hard to pinpoint exactly why repeat offenders commit DUIs, some factors may contribute to their reoffending. One way to determine whether someone is a repeat offender is to look at their driving record. Some states keep a Habitual DUI/DWI Offender List that lists the identities of repeat DUI offenders. It is available online and includes information like name, address, date of birth, and previous convictions.