On behalf of Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation posted in motor vehicle accidents on Sunday, December 2, 2018.
As people in California enjoy the holiday season, attention should be turned to the ongoing problems associated with drunk driving. This time of year tends to see an increase in the number of parties or other gatherings at which alcohol is served, thereby logically increasing the potential number of impaired drivers on the road. Despite increasingly tough laws and awareness campaigns, many people will simply not make a safe choice and avoid driving after drinking.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving reported based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that two-thirds of people will be involved in a vehicle accident in which alcohol was a factor during their life. The Federal Bureau of Investigation indicates that a person is likely to have driven while under the influence at least 80 times before they are ever arrested for a first driving under the influence offense.
In 2016, almost 300,000 people were injured in car crashes involving alcohol and more than 10,000 were killed in these senseless and avoidable wrecks. The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility notes that last year, drunk driving fatalities represented 29 percent of all vehicular fatalities nationwide.
With the Christmas and New Year’s holidays coming up fast, it is important to understand that these days of celebration can turn to days of mourning in an instant. In 2016, drivers over the legal limit of 0.08 blood alcohol contents were involved in 32 percent of auto deaths over Christmas and over 36 percent of vehicular fatalities over New Year’s Day. Drivers with BAC levels up to 0.07 percent accounted for four percent of deaths over Christmas and seven percent of deaths over New Year’s.