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In addition to the federal limit, states may implement their own penalties and BAC limit for drunk drivers within their jurisdiction. Victims began telling their stories, and the general public listened.
#Number of drunk drivers killed in the past 10 years driver#
Prominent activist groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driver (MADD) brought the message of preventing the deaths of loved ones caused by intoxicated drivers.
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With the introduction of the drinking age of 21 and several activist groups becoming vocal, drunk driving was soon highlighted in the media and public eyes as an epidemic. The 80s, the time of the Regan-era war on drugs, saw a prioritization of lessening the number of intoxicated driver traffic accidents on the roads. People who drove during that time will tell you that drunk driving wasn’t as heavily regulated. When looking at earlier and more prominent instances of drunk driving statistics from 40 years ago, you’ll notice that it was more than 50% higher than today. History of drunk driving and the statistics It’s said that drivers ages 25-34 are the most likely to drive with a high BAC. The exact amount of alcohol required for intoxication varies from person to person. Without one, there are some formulas for calculating a BAC of an individual that depends on sex and weight.Īlcohol consumed in grams/ body weight in grams * gender constant value (0.68 for males and 0.55 for females). Police may use a breathalyzer to measure a suspected driver’s BAC. Even the slightest sensation of being intoxicated can be written up (buzzed driving is drunk driving). Some states, like California or Illinois, may employ a zero-tolerance policy where a BAC as low as 0.02 can be grounds for a DUI.
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What qualifies as drunk driving?ĭriving under the influence, or a DUI (DWI in some states), is legally defined when a driver’s BAC (blood alcohol content) exceeds the federal limit of 0.08. For every drunk driver, there are at least 100 other drivers who know not to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Above all, drunk driving is a 100% avoidable offense. The danger is immediate, the evidence is overwhelming, and the consequences are severe. Since 66% of people are likely to become involved in such an accident in their lifetime, the government formally became involved and has enacted both federal and state legislation to reduce the number of drunk driving statistics.Īt the same time, it’s become a universal understanding that driving while drunk is one of the worst things you or another person can be caught doing while on the road. It truly makes you wonder how terrible of a problem it was 40 years ago. Drinking and Driving Statistics Every YearĪnnually, drunk driving can kill tens of thousands of people. Every 20 minutes, there’s a reported injury on account of a drunk driver. It’s estimated that around 30 people per day are killed as a result of intoxicated driving. Many will refer to driving under the influence as an epidemic in the country. This is coupled with states’ different methods and legislation cracking down on impaired driving.
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This contributes to the total decrease of more than 50% in total drunk driving statistics since the 80s. Since then, we’ve seen a decrease in underage drunk driving by more than 80%. This was because they found younger drivers to be more at risk for drunk driving. In 1984, the federal government mandated the drinking age to be 21.