Drunk driving, despite the efforts of MADD and multiple state governments, remains a serious public safety issue. It is estimated that more than 300,000 people drive drunk every day but only 3,200 are arrested. Here are some general numbers regarding drunk driving.
According to a study from the Substance Abuse and Health Services Administration conducted in 2013, 28.7 million people admitted to driving drunk. In 2014, more than 1.1 million arrests were made for DUIs. It is estimated that 50 to 75 percent of those convicted will drive on a suspended license, further endangering their future. About one-third of all arrested or convicted drivers are repeat offenders. The FBI estimates that the average drunk driver will drive impaired more than 80 times before his or her first arrest. These are huge numbers that illustrate there is a long way to go before drunk driving is eliminated.
Regarding the human cost, two out of three people on average will be involved in a drunken driving accident, either as a perpetrator or a victim. Drunk driving costs the United States an average of $132 billion a year in accidents, law enforcement and court expenses. In 2014, 9,967 people died and a further 290,000 were injured in drunken driving accidents. The financial and human cost of drunk driving remains astronomically high.
According to information from Michigan State University, despite popular opinion, strong coffee and cold showers do not sober people up; only time can do that.
If you were arrested on a DUI/DWI charge, then you may want to speak to a defense attorney at your earliest convenience. Depending upon the nature of your arrest and your record, you could be facing serious penalties. Drunk driving, as you can see, is taken very seriously by police and the public. This encourages judges and prosecutors to seek significant penalties. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process to ensure that your rights are respected and that you are treated fairly.
