Alcohol has been proven to reduce normal brain function, rational thinking, and cognitive functionality. In order to effectively operate a vehicle, all these are put into constant and active use. Drinking and driving alone are two relatively common causes of serious injury or death across the nation. Understanding the widespread risk impaired driving puts on a driver and those around them is the first step towards DUI prevention.
How Are DUI Accidents Impacting the US?
It’s hard to put into perspective how pressing an issue DUI accidents and DUI related fatalities are in the United States. At the current rate, about 37 people die in drunk driving crashes every day. This equates to approximately one person every 39 minutes. In 2020 alone, there was a 14% increase in drunk driving related traffic deaths to 13,384 people. Acknowledging that these deaths are preventable is the first step towards addressing the problem.
State DUI Laws and Regulations
The DUI laws and regulations you will be subjected to largely varies from state-to-state. It’s important to understand these few key definitions in order to safely abide by your state’s outlined legislation.
Zero Tolerance BAC Level
An important definition to understand regardless of your state is the “Zero Tolerance” BAC Level. In all states, drivers under the age of 21 are subjected to a “Zero Tolerance” policy where any measurable BAC level between 0.0 – 0.2 qualifies as driving under the influence. This reflects that 21 year olds cannot legally purchase or consume alcohol.
Extreme DUI Charges
Arizona is a great example of a state that has escalating penalties and sentencing for BAC levels that reach or exceed a certain threshold. For BAC levels from .15% to .20%, this is charged as an extreme DUI that is a more serious offense with harsher penalties and sentencing. While extreme DUIs are still a class 1 misdemeanor like a standard DUI here, even first time offenders are subjected to a leavy of other potential charges. This includes a minimum of 30 days in jail, 90 day license suspension, and payment of at least $1,500 in fines. Multiple extreme DUI charges escalates penalties to 120 days in jail, 1 year license suspension, and a minimum payment of $1,750 in fines.
Preventing DUIs
Improving Education and Awareness
This can occur at a communal, federal, or individual level. Spreading awareness about your state’s DUI laws, sharing statistics about the widespread commonality of fatal DUI accidents, or learning more about the way alcohol intake can affect motor and cognitive function can have a huge impact on keeping local roads safe. Schools, workplaces, and local organizations can all work together to develop campaigns that highlight how predictable and preventable drunk driving related accidents are.
Planning Alternatives
When attending a social or public event where you and friends or family members are planning on alcohol consumption, planning ahead is a key preventative method to ensure the safety of everyone involved. One way to accomplish this is by designating a sober, safe driver.
Since when the term “designated driver” was accepted into the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, there’s been a measurable impact on drunk driving deaths. In the following 4 year period, drunk driving deaths dropped by nearly one quarter and alcohol-related traffic deaths have declined by nearly 50 percent since the early 1980s. Joining the 60% of American drinkers that have benefited from, or volunteered as, a designated driver at one point will help contribute towards preventing impaired driving deaths.
If a designated driver isn’t an optimal solution, alternative transportation methods such as ridesharing services have helped increase the cost effectiveness and availability of safe travel. Taking the time to use the convenience of ridesharing platforms to ensure a safe journey provides an additional option that helps prevent the needless risk of drunk driving.
In areas where it’s accessible, public transportation provides an encouraging alternative for situations where your driving would be impaired. Cities that have invested in bus and train systems have been suggested to reasonably reduce alcohol related traffic deaths.
In conclusion, the significant amount of DUI accidents related fatalities in the US is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed in numerous ways. Recognizing that this is a preventable issue and working to become a safer, more informed individual is the easiest way to make a tangible impact. Understanding the state and federal legislation, working to raise awareness within your social circle, and advocating for multiple available alternatives to impaired driving will improve the safety of our roads in the future.
