Between family dinners, staff parties, and New Year’s Eve festivities the typical December is chock-full of celebratory occasions. And these celebratory occasions tend to include alcohol. So, it’s not surprising that the National Association of Drug Court Professionals has declared December to be “one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to an increase in impaired driving.”
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Initially declared in 1981, this month is an opportunity to raise awareness about drunk and drugged driving and encourage Americans to think twice before engaging in this dangerous and reckless behavior.
By the Numbers
The United States Department of Transportation shares some sobering statistics on drunk driving:
- Nearly 30 people die in drunk driving crashes every day in the United States, equating to over 10,000 deaths annually
- These deaths translate to a cost of $44 billion per year
- Every two minutes, an individual is injured because of drunk driving
- Two out of threepeople will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime
- People drive drunk over 300,000 times daily, but only 1% end up being arrested
But it’s not just drinking and driving that is the issue–individuals driving while under the influence of narcotics is also a deadly concern. Between 2007 and 2014, drivers with THC from cannabis in their system increased by 47%. After alcohol, cannabis is most commonly found in blood tests in drivers involved in car crashes.
Drugged driving can also include being impaired from prescription or over-the-counter medication. Drugs other than alcohol (both legal and illegal) are involved in 16% of motor vehicle accidents. A 2017 study released by Columbia University reported a seven-fold increase since 1995 in the number of drivers killed while operating a vehicle while impaired by prescription drugs.
How Much is Too Much
Intoxication levels are measured with a breathalyzer that calculates the amount of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in an individual. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws vary from state to state. While .08 is the level at which drivers are deemed to be legally intoxicated in most states (Utah being the exception with a .05 level), the punishment is determined at the state level and can range from fines to license suspension to mandatory alcohol education to jail time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the average person can have one standard drink per hour without reaching that .08 intoxication level. A standard drink is a bottle of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. While this is a general rule of thumb, it is not a guaranteed accurate formula as BAC levels can vary based on additional factors such as the individual’s weight, genetics, or drinking patterns.
BAC of .02 is the lowest intoxication level with a measurable impact on the brain and body. At .05, individuals exhibit signs of intoxication such as increased volume levels while speaking, reduced coordination, impaired judgment, and blurred vision. At the legal intoxication level of .08, individuals experience slurred speech, slower reaction time, difficulty with speed control, and loss of visual acuity.
The only way to lower one’s level of intoxication is through the passage of time. Coffee, cold showers, food – all are ineffective in reducing BAC levels.
You Have Choices
The good news is that these 10,000 annual deaths are 100% preventable. There has been some positive momentum in reducing incidences of drunk driving. Since Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was founded in 1980, with the goal of eliminating drunk driving, the number of victims impacted by drunk driving is half of what it used to be. However, there is still significant progress to be made.
If you plan to drink, plan ahead for how to get home safely. Ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, provide an easy alternative to drinking and driving. Public transit and cabs are good and viable options as well. Or select a designated driver to commit to staying sober and handling transportation duties.
If you are the one hosting a social gathering, be on alert for any guests who are intoxicated and planning to drive, and be prepared to intervene with alternatives. Also, be sure to have nonalcoholic drinks on hand for the designated drivers in the group.
And finally, keep the lines of communication open with your older kids and make sure they understand the impacts of impaired driving. Work with them to consider alternatives and make a plan for those times that they may find themselves in the company of peers who are imbibing.
The month of December can be a truly magical time of year and a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate with friends and family. Don’t let this magic be disrupted by a drunk and drugged driving tragedy. Personal injury and lawsuits have a way of dampening the Christmas spirit. By planning ahead and working together, we can help contribute to MADD’s vision of zero deaths, zero injuries, zero families impacted by impaired driving.
If you happen to find yourself affected by impaired driving, please contact Bennett Injury Law, and our award-winning team will connect on next steps.
