The problems and costs of DUI accidents are well worth thinking about. One part of this issue that is encouraging is that the problem can be stopped if people just take time to learn why they should not drink or use drugs and then drive. They also must act upon that knowledge and not drink and drive. The unfortunate part of this problem is that many drivers just will not take responsibility for being a safe driver. Many of them later will die in DUI accidents, or they will cause harm, expense and tragic death to other innocent victims.
DUI Can Ruin Your Life
Driving while impaired can ruin your life and that of innocent victims. As a driver, you have a responsibility to operate a vehicle properly and to use due caution while driving. Alcohol, even a small amount, impairs judgment, reasoning and your ability to respond to or avoid accident conditions. Younger drivers lack experience and knowledge of how their behavior can become a problem for themselves and others. Other drivers may exhibit a false confidence about their driving ability and take the wheel at times when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. People who use drugs are also likely to drink; that combination can easily become fatal.
DUI Facts
- DUI charges in all U.S. states apply to people whose test shows a blood alcohol content (BAC) per deciliter of 0.08%, legally drunk.
- To reach the BAC of .08 deciliter, a man of 170 pounds would need to drink four drinks in an hour; women weight 150 pounds would need to drink three drinks in an hour.
- If you have a BAC of 0.08%, it will take six hours to eliminate the alcohol from the body.
- Even a small amount, 0/02% BAC, will affect driver response and driving ability. This increases quickly with each drink.
- According to CDC records, almost a third of all traffic fatalities are caused by alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In 2013, 10.076 people died in DUI accidents, about 30 per day in the United States. In 2007, 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving while drunk or using narcotics.
- Each year, crashes due to DUI rack up costs over $59 billion dollars.
- DUI drivers who are involved in a fatal crash are six times more likely to have a prior conviction for DWI.
- Approximately 3 of every 10 people in America will someday be in an alcohol-related crash.
- More alcohol-impaired fatal crashes occur during nighttime hours, including 75% of fatalities that occur between midnight and 3 am.
- During 2013, 200 child passengers ages 14 and under died in alcohol-impaired crashes. Of these, more than half were riding in the same vehicle as the DWI driver.
- Drivers ages 21-24 make up 35% of alcohol-impaired drivers who get into fatal crashes.
- Drunken motorcycle drivers were in 27% of fatal DUI accidents during 2007; they are most likely to be involved in a fatal accident due to DUI.
- Safety belts were not worn by nearly 75% of drunk drivers who were involved in fatal collisions.
- Between 50% and 75% of drunk drivers continue to drive without a license after their driver’s license was suspended for previous DUI convictions.
- Police use a breathalyzer machine to test drivers for BAC. These machines estimate blood alcohol content levels by analyzing the level of alcohol in the lungs.
- Judgment is impaired when a driver is DUI because the brain is vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. The brain is an organ that contains a lot of water, and alcohol dilutes itself in the water volume of the body while travelling through it. Alcohol affects all vital organs that contain large amounts of water.
- Drunk drivers do not always get caught. One study indicates that drunk drivers had driven while drunk up to 80 times before getting caught or in an accident.
- Because alcohol affects judgment and slows reaction time, it causes drivers to attempt to drive because they falsely believe they are fine and able to do so properly.
- DWI means driving while intoxicated. This refers to alcohol, but DUI, driving under the influence, encompasses both alcohol and drug use.
- The most common beverage involved in DUI arrests and fatal traffic crashes is beer. Beer is also the most commonly used form of alcohol used by underage drivers and in binge drinking.
DUI Attorney
Being convicted of DUI offenses is not something to brush off. You should get immediate legal assistance from an experienced DUI Attorney. A conviction for drunk driving or driving under the influence of prohibited substances can deprive you of your freedom and more. Your DUI Attorney can help you protect your rights and freedom. They can investigate all aspects of the arrest situation or accident scene. If someone died because you were impaired and caused their accident, you could lose your license, be fined and sent to prison.
Some states have passed zero tolerance laws that apply to young drivers under age 21; there cannot be any measurable level of alcohol in their blood. Many states now have increasing severe penalties for repeat offenders. Some have mandatory jail time for those who are habitual offenders, along with longer times of license suspension.
A DUI Attorney may be able to get your sentence reduced, depending on state laws. Some states do not allow those reductions, however. The attorney will carefully examine all the evidence in your case and develop a strategy for your defense. You might be able to get a charge reduced or expunged from your record. Without legal assistance, you face the worst penalties, fines and outcome. It is essential to get immediate legal consultation if you are arrested for any DUI offense.
An experienced DUI Attorney is your best person to consult with about any DUI or DWI charges. Protect your freedom and rights today.
