What Age Group Has the Highest Rate of Drunk Driving Accidents?
Several different activist groups have become concerned with the issue of drunk driving. Mothers Against Drunk Driving claims that it has saved 350,000 lives. Fortunately, the number of drunk driving accidents in the United States has steadily declined over the years. However, there are still some demographics that have more drunk driving accidents than others.
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Young drivers are at a higher risk of being involved in drunk driving accidents. These drivers account for almost one-fifth of all drunk driving fatalities. A driver under the age of 21 has a 14% chance of causing a drunk driving accident. This is not surprising given the fact that young drivers often take risks that older drivers do not.
The rate of drunk driving accidents among drivers over the age of 21 has also decreased. However, the rate among drivers under the age of 21 has decreased dramatically in the last several years. The average rate among drivers under the age of 21 is 70% lower than the rate for drivers over the age of 21.
One of the most important reasons why drunk driving accidents have declined is because of laws that require drivers to be at least 21 years old. Laws that require drivers to be at least 21 have been shown to save more than 30,000 lives in the past decade.
Another reason why drunk driving accidents have declined is because of the rise of ride-sharing services. According to NHTSA, ride-sharing services account for more than half of all drunk driving traffic incidents. These services allow people to call a ride from a designated driver. Ride-sharing services are a great way for people to get home safely. However, these services do not necessarily reduce drunk driving accidents. Other factors can increase the risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident.
According to NHTSA, drivers aged 25 to 34 are more likely to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is above the legal limit. These drivers also are more likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident than drivers over the age of 55. However, drivers under the age of 21 are also more likely to be involved in a drunk driver crash than drivers over the age of 55.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also published a special report that looked at how impaired driving affects different demographics. For instance, men are four times more likely to drive under the influence than women. And, males are also more likely to be arrested for a DUI than females. However, females are also more likely to have a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
Lastly, drunk driving accidents are more common in the summer months. According to NHTSA, 87 percent of all drunk driving accidents occurred on non-interstate roads. And, motorcycles are not as likely to be involved in drunk driving crashes as passenger cars and vans are.