According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2010 the United States sustained instances where a drunk driver got behind the wheel 112 million times. Any licensed driver understands the weight that this drunk driving statistic carries. With so many occasions of drunk driving recorded, it is no surprise that approximately one-third of all motor vehicle collision fatalities in the United States involved a drunk driver.
In Mobile, Alabama, motorists who choose to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol are subject to the DUI penalties within the state of Alabama. Alabama’s per se laws state that those Alabama drivers who have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 percent or higher are operating a vehicle over the legal limit, and thus, may be arrested by the present officers. While .08 percent may seem like a very small number, the driver of the vehicle would have to be very intoxicated to reach this blood alcohol content.
Citrin Law Firm strongly believes in the power of education to reduce the number of auto accidents related to those driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. While many Alabama drivers are aware of the possible dangers associated with drinking and driving, the effect of outlining Mobile drunk driving statistics is often much greater. When Mobile motorists are able to attribute a number to the terrifying drunk driving facts given, they are able to put these driving hazards into perspective.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, complete a Free Case Review on this page to speak with a car accident attorney in Mobile.
Mobile Drunk Driving Statistics
In an effort to reduce the number of auto accidents associated with alcohol related causes, we have provided quite a few impactful statistics regarding the dangers linked to driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. As more and more motorists enter the roads and highways of Alabama, they must understand that alcohol use puts yourself, your passengers, and all other cars on the road in serious jeopardy.
Many Mobile drivers believe that they are “fine to drive” after having a few drinks at a bar, restaurant, or social gathering. On the contrary, however, drinking alcohol has a severe impact on a person’s ability to function properly, make smart decisions, and react at a normal level. The following are some of the common side effects associated with alcohol intake:
- No control over eye/hand coordination
- Severely slowed reaction times
- Vision, movement, speech impairment
- Altered judgment
- Difficulty concentrating
Due to all of the potential side effects inherent in alcohol use, drinking and driving should never, under any circumstances, be tolerated. The following are some of the most influential Mobile drunk driving statistics:
- Over 1 million drivers have been arrested each year for the last several years for driving under the influence of alcohol
- Approximately one-third of all motorists arrested for drunk driving have been arrested at least once in the past for the same violation
- In the U.S., a person is killed every 40 minutes due to a drunk driver
- 278 people died in the state of Alabama in 2010 because of an alcohol related incident
- Of the drivers arrested for driving under the influence in Alabama, 61.8 percent of them had a BAC above .15 percent, all of these collisions ended in at least one fatality
- Men were involved in 4 of every 5 drinking and driving incidents in 2010 in the United States
- Drivers with a BAC above .15 percent were responsible for 10,228 fatalities in 2010
- In 2010, 1.4 million motorists were arrested for drunk driving
- All 50 states maintain that legal drunk level of a .08 percent BAC
- Close to 75 percent of those motorists who were killed in an alcohol-related traffic collision were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash
- In 2010, 131 children were killed while in a vehicle where the operator was intoxicated
- 31 percent of all fatal alcohol-related collisions occur on the weekends
- 28 Americans die each day as a result of drunk driving
- Since MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) was established in 1980, the number of drunk driving fatalities has been reduced by 50 percent
Over the last 10 years, Alabama has seen a reduction in the number of alcohol impaired traffic fatalities. Nevertheless, the number of lives taken each year is still of serious concern. Hopefully the Mobile drunk driving statistics shed a bit of light on the current state of drunk driving in the United States, as well as in the state of Alabama.
Serving both Mobile and Baldwin counties, Citrin Law Firm has been dedicated to the improvement of the state of Alabama for many years. Our firm takes pride in our role in the community, helping to reduce the number of auto accidents, injuries, and fatalities that occur across our state. Mobile, AL is a heavily trafficked area, causing a significant number of traffic fatalities in the state.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a drunk driver, a Mobile auto accident attorney is here to help. Utilizing our knowledge, experience, and resources, we are able to construct a case that will place you in the best position to win. We are not satisfied unless our clients receive the compensation that they deserve.
To get started today, please fill out a Free Case Review at your earliest convenience.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.