Posts Tagged ‘DWI Statistics’

Drunk Driving – Is your child at risk?

Posted on Aug 12, 2010

Does drunk driving put your children at risk? Drunken driving is definitely a risky habit. People who drive while intoxicated are not only a risk to themselves; they are a risk to their own children. Most rational people would concede this point. Certainly everyone can agree that alcohol abuse affects children.

DWI Drivers Concern for Child Safety

Most Americans are willing to make concessions when it comes to child protection issues and this says a lot about the nation. People that participate in risky behaviors like driving while intoxicated are not considering the risk to themselves so they probably do not have your children in mind when they drink and drive. Those who abuse alcohol are on one level when it comes to self-destruction and those who go further down this path and put others in peril by driving while intoxicated just do not care about your child’s safety.

Drunk Driving In Teenagers

Another aspect of child endangerment is teenagers who drink and drive and grow up thinking this is normal behavior. Teen drunk driving statistics in US is alarming. Yes, your teenager is at risk if they drink and drive but also from others who carelessly do so. The carelessness of others has made it necessary for laws to be passed and the curtailment of some freedom in order to curb to reckless action of a few.

DWI With Children in the Car

There are those who drive drunk and do it with children in the vehicle with them. These people are not satisfied with endangering themselves and other drivers on the highways but they include there own children also.

Statistics for DWI with Children in the Vehicle

DWI statistics for people that drive drunk with kids in the vehicle with them are eye opening. Research by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that over 2,000 children died in DWI related accidents from 1997 to 2002. The report says 70% of the kids who lost lives were passengers in the cars driven by drunk drivers.

Children That Die In DWI Accidents

The NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration) says in the year 2003 traffic accidents crashes were the number one cause of fatalities in kids from the ages of 2 and 14. The same organization’s study states that in 2004 over 20 % of the kids that died in traffic accidents in the same year were involved in DWI accidents. About, 50 % of these children were riding in the vehicles with drunken drivers.

Tougher DWI Laws to Protect Children

For a long time now, groups that advocate for tougher DWI laws have been asking for laws to increase the drunk driving penalties for DWI with children in the car. A few states have focused on fighting drunk driving with kids in the vehicle and made it a priority issue. However these states are a small minority most states do not make it a priority at all.

Drunk Driving Risk to Children Addressed

In the beginning of this decade, a law was passed in Wyoming, according to which first-time DWI offenders with kids in their vehicle face up to 6 months in jail. For a second offense of DWI with children in the vehicle, one could be charged with a felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison under this law.

So is your child at risk because of drunk driving? You be the judge!

Teen Drunk Driving Statistics in the US

Posted on Jul 22, 2010

Given their age and youthful nature, teenagers will express great enthusiasm when receiving their newfound freedom of getting their driver’s license and being able to drive on their own. However this newfound freedom, along with inexperience, in addition to the startling statistics of teenagers drinking and driving is a scary combination. Teens who have been drinking, usually lack good judgment, and the feeling of responsibilities and consequences of drinking and driving.

Teenage Driving In the US

In a recent survey conducted by the CDC, teenagers account for nearly fifty percent of binge drinking (drinking more than five drinks during one sitting). According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6.4 percent out of 194.3 million drivers licensed in the United States fell in between the ages 16 to 20. Though these teen drivers represent a small percentage of the total American drivers, teenage drivers is said to cause a disproportionately high percent of roadway accidents.

Teenage Drinking and Driving – Some alarming statistics

The leading cause of death for those ages 15-20 is a car accident.
According to the CDC 4,767 teenagers died from fatal car crash injuries in 2004.
According to the National Traffic Safety Administration and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 31% of all 15 to 20 year olds had been drinking when killed in a car accident, and 25% of them were alcohol impaired.
Teenage drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle collision than their older more experienced driving counterparts, notes the CDC.
Teen drivers are responsible for twelve percent of all road-related fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports twenty-three percent of teenage drivers in fatal car crashes possessed a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) level above the legal limit of .08 on the breathalyzer test.
According to a 2002 CDC report that, the econosmic cost of automobile accidents involving teenagers is a staggering forty billion dollars or more annually.

Drunk Driving Laws and Penalties for Teens:

The fact is, driving is a privilege. Though there are DUI laws in place, they are still being ignored. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and when you get caught your life will be turned up-side-down. Here are a few things that could happen:

Increase in auto insurance rates or even denial of insurance coverage.
Seizure of motor vehicle
The loss or suspension of driver’s license
Limited job opportunities
Jail time
Hefty fines
Community service
Probation, DUI programs

Alcohol abuse in teens is a serious problem in the US. Underage drinking and being illegally intoxicated can be life altering for not only themselves, but all innocent bystanders on the road as well. These statistics are real; don’t try so hard to be just another statistic!

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DWI Statistics – States with most DWI cases

Posted on Feb 24, 2010

Drunk driving has long been a major thorn in the side of policy makers. Billions of dollars are spent each year to implement policies and strategies that realize a reduction in road fatalities because of drunk driving. Increased fines, introduction of prison terms, suspension and cancelation of driver’s license are only some of these strategies.

Statistics show that of the 275,000 road fatalities in the USA each year, at least 18,000 of that number are from are directly related to DWI. As a result, there is an unfortunate but alarming fatality rate due to DWI of one DWI related death in every thirty-nine minutes. To be charged with a DWI offence, the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) must be over 0.08. Some states have lower levels of 0.07 especially for young drivers who lack the necessary experience required to navigate difficult circumstances.

States with Highest DWI Cases

Different states have different levels of DWI cases for several. Some of these are because of natural causes while others are man-made.

California: Each year there are over 200,000 DWI related accidents in California. Of this amount, almost 4000 result in fatalities. This high amount of DWI related charges are due to a number of reasons. First, to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road, the Department of transport of the state of California has stipulated that individuals under the age of twenty-one are not allowed to drive with a BAC level above 0.01 to 0.5. Breaches result in revocation of license and mandatory drunk driver visitation programs. In addition, drivers are not allowed to drive while having an open alcoholic beverage in their possession.

From a cultural standpoint, Californians are known to have a wild side. The lifestyle of the many rich and the famous does little to quell the high rates of DWI cases in California. These individuals sometimes display a carefree attitude and consume high volumes of alcohol that results in them being charged for DWI.

Alaska: Weather is a major contributing factor to the high rates of Alaska’s high rate of DWI charges and road fatalities. Alaska has one of the longest winters and like countries such as Russia, the population consumes high volumes of alcohol in order to keep their internals warm. Couples the high level of alcohol consumption with icy roads and you have an accident just waiting to happen. To stem the tide of DWI, the Alaska Road Safety Department has stepped up the drive to control the high volumes of road fatalities. They have increased fines, spot checks, prison time and termination of driving license.

Texas: Texas is another state with high DWI cases and road fatalities. The number of DWI cases is influenced by the stringent laws implemented by the state to curb accidents related to DWIs. According to Texas DWI Law, an individual who is above the age of 21 is declared drunk once their BAC level is above 0.08. For individuals below 21, any traces of alcohol regardless of how small will result in one being charged with DWI. Hence, with increased patrols the number of reported cases seems high. In addition, they also charge drinking establishments under the Dram Act that holds these sellers responsible for allowing a drinker to drink until they are a danger to themselves and others.

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