Did you know that in the United States every 32 minutes a person is involved in an alcohol-related crash? Did you know that most drunk drivers have driven drunk 80 times before they are actually arrested? Drunk driving is a leading cause of death and injury in the U.S. Anyone can be affected by drunk driving whether you actually drink alcohol or not. It is important for everyone to know how to help prevent people from driving while intoxicated and to know as much as possible about alcohol and its effects.
Drunk Driving Statistics
Almost all college campuses have underage drinking and students drinking to excess. In 2009 a study determined that approximately 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries including car accidents. Also in the U.S. In 2009 a study found that almost one-third of all traffic-related deaths were due to crashes involving alcohol. Alcohol is a big problem which even affects high school teens as well. Not only is underage drinking illegal but you have new, inexperienced drivers who are on the road and sometimes intoxicated. That is a very bad combination.
Prevention Techniques
There are many programs and groups which are available to educate non-alcoholics and alcoholics about prevention techniques to avoid driving while intoxicated. Some techniques emphasize moderation versus totally abstaining from alcohol. A well-known 12-step abstinence program focuses on accountability for those who have a drinking problem.
DUI and DWI
If your blood alcohol content is greater than the legal limit while you are driving a vehicle you can be considered driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). These two terms are used to determine when the law considers a person to be drunk. It is important to be familiar with the DUI/DWI laws so you know what can happen if you drive drunk.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Did you know that in the U.S. a person with a .08 or higher blood alcohol concentration is legally considered drunk? Driving can even be impaired at lower alcohol concentration levels. The BAC (which stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration or Blood Alcohol Content) is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood. Not all people attain the legal BAC at the same rate. Weight, height, sex, different kinds of alcohol and varying tolerance levels all affect the speed at which a person becomes intoxicated. It is helpful if you drink alcohol to know what it takes to reach the BAC limit for you so you can plan what you need to do to keep yourself and others safe.
After DWI and DUI Convictions
Each state in the U.S. has their own rules regarding DUI and DWI convictions and penalties. Typically the first offense is not too severe if no one was harmed by your vehicle, but more convictions bring harsher penalties which can include time in jail. If you have too many of these conviction you might never be able to obtain a driver’s license again.
Prevention Campaigns
There are many wonderful campaigns which have been created by the federal and state governments as well as non-profit organizations to try to help prevent drunk driving. They have very memorable slogans such as “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” The purpose of these campaigns is to make everyone aware of the dangers involved with drunk driving and offer ways you can help prevent it from happening. Teenagers are often targeted with these campaigns in order to help them avoid a lifetime of putting themselves and others at risk.
- A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences: The article offers statistics regarding college students drinking alcohol and the problems associated with it.
- Alcohol Information and Statistics: The website has a lot of great information on alcohol, crash facts, impaired driving and many other alcohol-related topics.
- Impaired Driving-Get the Facts: The website provides statistics regarding impaired driving as well as information about other alcohol topics.
- Drunk and Drugged Driving: This article offers statistics on the subjects of both drunk and drugged driving.
- Teen Drunk Driving Statistics Demand Attention: The article focuses on teen drunk driving statistics which are staggering.
- Fighting Drunk Driving: This article discusses the drunk driving problem and offers solutions
- Drunk Driving Prevention: The article provides information on drunk driving prevention and the success the “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” has had.
- California Avoid Program: This program focuses on eliminating drunk driving in California.
- Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) provides information on what to do if you see a drunk driver, understanding .08 and many other topics.
- Welcome to SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions not only deals with teens drinking and driving but also with drug use and other bad decisions.
- National Strategy to Stop Impaired Driving: This website provides information on subjects such as ignition interlocks and highly-visible enforcement.
- Alcoholics Anonymous: The website discusses what this program is and who it is for.
- Friends Drive Sober: This is a resource for alcohol abuse and impaired driving projects.
- Ground Control: This is a drunk driving prevention campaign intended to reach young people.
- Be a Hero-Be a Designated Driver: A great campaign that features designated drivers to keep drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.
- Join Together: This movement focuses on the advancement of drug and alcohol policy as well as prevention and treatment regarding the problems.
- Moderation Management: This program is geared toward moderation versus abstinence.
- Welcome to RID: RID stands for Remove Intoxicated Drivers and focuses on getting drunk drivers off the streets.
- DUI Statistics: The Arizona Department of Public Safety offers DUI statistics as well as prevention information and Arizona laws.
- Prevention of Drinking and Driving: The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension discuses drinking and driving in Delaware.
- DUI (Driving Under the Influence): The article discusses DUI consequences in California.
- The B4UDrink Educator: This is an interactive program to teach you about how your BAC level is affected by alcohol.
- BAC Calculator: The calculator helps you to see how little alcohol it takes to reach your .08 level.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits: The Alcohol Policy Information System discusses BAC limits and adult drivers as well as underage drinking.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration: The article explains the BAC and its relation to causing a crash.
- Understanding Blood Alcohol Content: This article explains Blood Alcohol Content in-depth.
- Arrest for Driving Under the Influence General Information: The information applies to arrests for DUI in California.
- DUI Convictions: The website discusses penalties for a DUI and offers case evaluations from local lawyers.
- DUI/DWI Laws: The article provides information on laws regarding DUI/DWI.
- DWI/DUI Laws of U.S. States: This article discusses the DWI/DUI laws in the U.S. As well as intoxicated driver statistics and other alcohol-related topics.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): The article provides information on Florida laws regarding a DUI.
- Drinking and Driving: The article explains how drinking and driving is a crime.
- A Harvard College Alcohol Study (PDF): The study focused on college student alcohol consumption and environmental conditions which promote it.
- Drinking and Driving by PBS: There is a lot of good information on this website such as impaired driving facts, fighting impaired driving and being a friend.
- Interlocks for First-Time DUI Convictions: This article discusses how interlocks for first-time convictions for DUI cut repeat offenses.Drunk-Driving Simulator: The article explains about a drunk driving simulator where students put on beer goggles and strapped into an ATV to weave in and out of cones.
- Blood Alcohol Content: The article discusses BAC and low risk and at risk guidelines as well as what a drink is and possible alcohol effects.
- Blood Alcohol Content is Personal: The article shows how sex and weight affect blood alcohol levels and what standard drinks are.
- What is BAC?: The article explains what BAC is and how much alcohol you actually drink with standard drinks.
- Alcohol Facts: An excellent article regarding general alcohol information including alcohol energy drinks.
- Alcohol and Other Drug Facts: This website explains how to calculate BAC and provides an online calculator.
- Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs: This website offers many great links such as “Before One More Campaign” and “Measure Your Drinking.”
This free resource created by Cheap Car Insurance is meant to educate and raise awareness concerning drinking and driving. Sharing is permissible. Please contact us if you have any questions. Get a car insurance quote in your area.