If you drove anywhere over Labor Day weekend you likely saw signs about increased drunk driving enforcement. For most, these ad campaigns are no surprise, since they typically appear at peak travel times during holidays each year. This $13 million national campaign to raise public awareness is only part of the government's continuing efforts to crackdown on the ongoing epidemic of drunk driving.
A recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) examined America's attitudes and tendencies towards drunk driving. The survey found that:
- One in 12 drivers admitted to driving while drunk at least once in the past year. That means at least 17 million people each year drive drunk.
- One in five drivers admitted to driving as little as two hours after drinking.
- Four out of five Americans see drunk driving as a "major threat" to themselves or their families.
- Underage drinkers average six alcoholic beverages in one sitting. While not as many of them admit to driving after drinking, it suggests that those that do drank more heavily than the average intoxicated driver.
Underage Drinking and Driving
On August 1, 2010, a 19-year-old drunk driver in Charlotte, North Carolina, hit three pedestrians and drove almost 100 feet with one on her car before she hit a tree. Witnesses said she never even hit the brakes.
This was not Kirstie Pienta's first brush with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) offense. In May of this year, Pienta was charged with speeding and under age alcohol consumption. Her license was revoked; her first set of DWI charges are still pending. Pienta now faces additional charges of reckless driving, DWI, underage consumption and driving with a revoked license.
Drunk Driving Fatalities
While the three pedestrians from the August incident were hospitalized but released without serious injury, they were more fortunate than many others who encounter drunk drivers. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and drunk driving plays a significant role in many of those crashes. In 2008 alone, drunk drivers accounted for 32 percent of all car crash fatalities.
An estimated 11,773 people were killed by a drunk driver in 2008 - an average of one death every 45 minutes.
Over 1,500 of the drunk drivers that caused accidents in 2008 were under age 21. NHTSA research also shows that drunk drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes are eight times more likely to have previous DWI charges than sober drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents, as was the case of Pienta.
The crackdown on drunk driving and underage drunk driving will continue throughout the year, as NHSTA partners with 11,000 police agencies throughout the nation to promote the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. Campaign.
If you are injured in a drunk driving crash or a loved one has been killed in an accident with an drunk driver, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney in your area can ensure that your rights are protected.
