Drunk Driving Accidents

It is a known fact that drunk driving accidents kill. Alcohol, even in small amounts has the ability to impair a person’s thoughts, vision, and reaction time. Every 31 minutes in the United States someone is killed in a drunk driving accident. In addition to those killed, there are over 200 thousand people injured where the police report that alcohol was present. This means that every 2 minutes, one person is injured in drunk driving accidents. These statistics show why drunk driving is such a major public policy issue, and one that will always be fought against.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

• In 2005 there were 7,460 youth motor vehicle deaths and drunk driving accidents is the number one cause of deaths among teens aged 15-20.
• 28 percent of the youths aged 15-20 who were killed in a drunk driving accident were the ones drinking.
• Drivers of any age are less likely to adhere to seat belt laws when they have been drinking therefore diminishing their chance to survive if an accident occurs.
• It has been estimated that in 2005, 906 lives were saved  due to the minimum drinking age laws.
• 30 percent of drunk driving accidents in 2005, regarding all age groups, occurred during the weekday were fatal crashes, compared to 52 percent on the weekends.
• Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 or higher are seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal drunk driving accident than a driver who has not consumed any alcohol. A driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher is twenty five times more likey.

Despite the warnings against drunk driving, the public awareness, educational programs, and stiffer penalties put into place for those who have been charged and convicted with drunk driving there are still people who will continue to get behind the wheel after becoming intoxicated, wreaking havoc on the highways and contributing to the many drunk driving accidents our roads are victim to each year.