According to current statistics from the NHTSA, driving while drunk mishaps, automobile or motor vehicle crashes, and car accidents due to drunk driving are a leading cause of death for people from two to 33 years old.
Thirty percent of all fatal driving while intoxicated accidents or collisions during the year were alcohol-connected, in contrast to 53% on weekends. For all accidents, the alcohol involvement amount was five percent throughout the week and 12 percent during the end of the week. The effect of alcohol involvement will increase with injury seriousness. Alcohol-involved or driving while drunk incidents and crashes made up 10 percent of property damage only crash costs, 21% of nonfatal injury crashes; and over 40% of fatal injury collision costs; more than 3 times as high at night as during the day.
For all incidents, the alcohol involvement rate is over four times as high at night.
Younger motorists 21 to 24 years of age were most likely to be drunk (BAC of 0.08 g/dl or greater) in driving while intoxicated accidents and fatal collisions in the year 2003. Thirty-two percent of people 21 to 24 years old involved in driving while intoxicated and fatal collisions were impaired, followed by ages 25 to 34 and 35 to 44.
The intoxication level (those over .08 BAC) for men engaged in fatal collisions was 25 percent, compared with 12 percent for women drivers.
For dui accidents and fatal wrecks taking place from midnight to 3:00 AM, 77 percent involved alcohol in 2003. The next most hazardous time period for alcohol-related accident deaths were 9 PM to midnight, followed by 3 AM to 6 AM.
Those motorists over the age of 70 were least likely to be impaired (BAC of 0.08 g/dl or greater) in dwi accidents and fatal crashes in 2003 – only five percent were impaired.
Based on these results, there can be no doubt that dui is still very widespread throughout our society and certainly requires our attention.
If you are facing drunk driving charges, your best option is usually to consult with a local drunk driving lawyer near you. Discuss you situation with a local San Antonio DUI lawyer today.