Drunk Driving Fatalities Drop According To NHTSA
A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which recorded a two percent drop in roadway deaths, also found a big drop in the rate of drunk-driving-related fatalities. According the NHTSA, drunk driving deaths fell 2.5 percent nationwide in 2011 when compared to 2010 numbers.
The report broke the data down by state and found that the state with the biggest percentage drop was Maine. The number of alcohol-impaired deaths fell from 40 to 23 percent between 2010 and 2011, which translates into a giant 43 percent decrease.
New Hampshire came in a close second, logging a 40 percent decline in booze-related deaths. The state dropped from 45 deaths in 2010 to 27 in 2011. Idaho rounded out the top three with a 31 percent drop, going from 72 deaths to 50 in 2011. A total of 27 states saw a drop in alcohol related fatalities.
Unfortunately, not every state was a winner. In Oregon, road deaths related to alcohol jumped up from 70 in 2010 to 97 in 2011. This is a 39 percent increase and was the largest increase in the report. North Dakota saw a 39 percent as well, recording 64 deaths in 2011 versus 46 deaths in 2010. Colorado managed a second place showing with a 34 percent increase and 41 deaths. Alaska went from 16 to 21 deaths for a 31 percent increase.
Along with the report the NHTSA is ramping up publicity for its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over ad campaign. According to Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, this message is especially important during the holiday season. In 2011, four percent of people that were killed in drunk driving accidents died during the second half of December.
In a statement Lahood said, “The holiday season can be an especially dangerous time on our nation’s roadways due to drunk drivers — that’s why law enforcement officers will be out in full force. Our message is simple: drive sober or get pulled over.”
A DUI Will Raise Your Insurance Rates
Driving drunk is dangerous and can result in not only a totaled car but also a huge increase in your car insurance premiums. A DUI will result in big surcharges that can easily double your rates for a first offense. Cancellation is also a possibility, leaving you with little choice but to join a high-risk pool, which will result in a giant increase in your monthly payment.
Industry experts warn drivers convicted of a DUI that their premiums will increase anywhere from 25 to 200 percent depending on the age of the driver. Teen and younger drivers will see a much bigger increase than older drivers. A second DUI will can result in an increase of 300 to 400 percent and in many cases your policy will be cancelled, as insurers will rate you as a driver that regularly engages in risky behaviors.
While many states have seen a decline in drunk driving related fatalities, many states saw an increase according to a recent report from the NHTSA. Being convicted of a DUI will dramatically increase your car insurance rates and could even result in cancellation.
