Drunk driving continues to be a major safety concern, with almost 12,000 people killed annually from alcohol-related accidents. Now, a new study by the Department of Transportation reveals that one in five drivers admit to driving within two hours of drinking. The study also revealed the total number of past-month drinking/driving trips is estimated to be at 85.5 million, up from 73.7 million in 2004 and reversing years of decline since 1995. The issue affects many people and the study found four out of five people see drunk driving as a major threat to the safety of themselves and their family.
Another disturbing trend in the study was the amount of alcohol consumed in one sitting. For 21-24 year olds, the average alcohol consumption was more than four drinks in a sitting. There were not many 16-20 year olds who admit to drinking and driving in the survey, but those who did said they had nearly six drinks in one sitting (that includes all occasions, not only drinking and driving).
Besides personal consumption, the survey also noted that eight percent of people rode with someone who they thought was too drunk to drive. Twenty-four percent of males aged 21-24 were more at risk of riding with a drunk driver. And drivers who drink were three times as likely as drivers who don’t to ride with someone they thought had consumed too much alcohol. Non-drivers who drink were eight times as likely to do so.
The survey also showed that eight percent of all drivers, or about 17 million people, have driven drunk at least once in the past year. About 1 percent aged 16 or older have been arrested for driving under the influence in the past two years, with five percent of men 21-24 years of age arrested. Of eight anti-DWI technologies read to respondents of the survey, 63 percent say that alcohol interlocks in vehicles would be very effective at helping to curb drunk-driving behavior. See our report on New York State’s new law on interlock devices.
The self-reporting behavior telephone survey was conducted from September 2008 through December 2008 with 6,999 respondents, aged 16 and up. The survey sample was higher for people aged 16 to 24.
The Department of Transportation’s drunk driving campaign “Over the limit, Under arrest” is currently underway through the Labor Day holiday. During this time, police will be out in full force to stop and ticket drunk driving offenders.
—Liza Barth
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