A closer look at the problem of drunk driving in the United States

Drunken driving is actually a huge problem throughout the United States. And our Houston DWI accident lawyers note that it’s an even greater problem in Texas. Texas leads the nation in drunken driving accidents. In 2011, the fatal toll in Texas was 1,213 DWI deaths. In Texas, the total cost of a drunken driving death is about $4.7 million between the emergency response, accident investigation, medical and funeral costs, and ensuing lawsuits.

After a several year period of declining accident fatalities in general and DWI deaths in particular, the United States saw an increase in 2011 and 2012 of around 5% to 7%, meaning that recently drunken driving has accounted for almost 38% of all traffic fatalities. (Overall traffic deaths only increased 3.3%.) In 2012, 10.322 were killed in DWI accidents. Basically, that equates to 28 people killed each day in U.S. drunken driving accidents, or one every 51 minutes.

IIDs and their Role in Reducing DWI Crimes

Some states have ignition interlock device (IID) laws that apply to convicted drunken drivers. These drivers have devices installed in their vehicles that test them for inebriation. If the device detects alcohol above a threshold amount, it won’t start the car. And the Houston DWI accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC caution that the device also usually conducts random tests during the course of a drive. If the in-drive test detects drunkenness, it might stop thee car or alert the authorities.

New Mexico and Arizona have passed laws requiring the installation of IIDs in the vehicles of convicted DWI offenders. Statistical data shows that the two states have reduced their DUI fatalities by 35% and 46% respectively. The reduction is largely attributed to the IID laws, so the U.S. CDC just recommended that each U.S. state pass a similar law. This initiative is also strongly supported by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

TxDOT and the Texas DPS data reveals that last year, 6,882 alcohol-related injuries occurred. Our Houston DWI accident lawyers mention that there were 25,671 alcohol-related wrecks. And the 89,256 DUI arrests did not prevent these crashes and injuries. The U.S. NHTSA estimates the annual taxpayer cost of subsidizing the consequences of DWI fatalities at $6 billion.

A MADD survey of adult drivers showed that when those drivers saw another person attempt to drive home drunk, 19% did nothing, perhaps believing that any costs and consequences wouldn’t fall on them. But not only could anyone be killed or injured by that drunk driver, including the disinterested observer, the costs of their fatal wrecks are eventually figured into your car insurance, medical insurance, and tax payments.

Some Sobering Drunken Driving Statistics:

• Our Houston DWI accident lawyers emphasize that almost 50% of drivers killed in crashes who tested positive for drugs also had alcohol in their system. Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. 2011).
• Around 33% of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders. (Fell, Jim. “Repeat DWI Offenders in the United States.” Washington, DC: National Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Traffic Tech No. 85, February 1995.) And by the time a drunken driver is arrested, he or she has usually already driven drunk about 80 times.
• Over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Crime in the United States: 2011”) And males are almost twice as likely as females to drive drunk.
• In 2011, 226 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. Of those, our Houston DWI accident lawyers remark that a full 54% were riding in the drunken driver’s vehicle. (NHTSA data query, 2013.)
• Drunken driving crashes are about twice as high on the weekend than during the workweek, and nighttime DWI crashes are almost 5 times as frequent as daytime wrecks.
• If all 17 million people who admitted to driving drunk had their own state, it would be the fifth largest state in the U.S. (and isn’t that an interesting idea: move all drunken drivers to their own state, where they put only their own lives at risk?). (Lacey, John et al. “2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers: Alcohol Results.” Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, December 2009.)
• 50% to 75% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on suspended licenses. OK, our Houston DWI accident lawyers aren’t that surprised. The United States is largely a car-dependent culture. (Peck, R.C., Wilson, R. J., and Sutton, L. 1995. “Driver license strategies for controlling the persistent DUI offender, Strategies for Dealing with the intent Drinking Driver.” Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Circular No. 437. Washington, D.C. National Research Council: 48-49.)
• About one out of every three people will be involved in a drunken driving crash in their lives.

Learn the Necessary Steps to Take after a Serious Injury Accident

Click the book icon on this web page to download your free guide from the Houston DWI accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC. If you have additional questions about what to do after the specific accident of you or your loved ones, just call us at 713-807-9500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free initial legal consultation. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. And our Texas Board Certified attorneys could walk you through your legal options, potential obstacles to your claim, and an evaluation of your potential for a full financial recovery for your injuries.

Our Houston DWI accident lawyers never charge attorney’s fees unless we win your case for you. So contact us today, and put our more than 12 years of experience making successful recoveries in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases to work for your benefit.