New study finds fewer people getting behind the wheel when drunk
On behalf of Harry Dorian
A recent study found the number of drunk drivers has fallen in the United States in recent years.
One of the biggest concerns for any motorist on the road is whether other drivers are refraining from dangerous behaviors when behind the wheel. Unfortunately, despite the known dangers of driving while intoxicated, many drivers in Pennsylvania and across the United States continue to make such hazardous choices.
According to a recent study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, the number of people driving while intoxicated has been declining in recent years.
Researchers performed surveys at the side of the road in 2013 and 2014 to determine the frequency with which people are getting behind the wheel when impaired. They found that the number of intoxicated drivers has fallen by about 30 percent since 2007.
In all, approximately 8 percent of all motorists on the road on a weekend night had consumed some alcohol. In addition, around 1.5 percent of those motorists had consumed enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
The anonymous study was first performed in 1973. Since then, the number of people behind the wheel with alcohol in their system has fallen by over 75 percent.
Drunk driving collisions a serious concern in Pennsylvania
Despite the positive findings of the NHTSA study, drunk driving continues to be a serious issue in Pennsylvania and across the country.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 368 people lost their lives in drunk driving crashes in Pennsylvania in 2014. In total, those fatalities accounted for over 30 percent of all traffic deaths in the state that year.
Across Pennsylvania, there were over 11,000 drunk driving accidents in 2014 – of those, 7,900 resulted in at least one individual suffering personal injuries.
Similar statistics are seen across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2012, drunk drivers were responsible for approximately 31 percent of all traffic deaths in the country. In all, over 10,320 people were killed in crashes caused by drunk drivers in the United States that year.
When a drunk driver causes a serious auto accident, he or she should be held accountable for the damage done in the crash. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, you should consider seeking the counsel of a skilled personal injury attorney, who will work to ensure your interests are protected.
Keywords: drunk driving, Pennsylvania