1.4 million arrests constitutes less than one percent of
alcohol-impaired U.S. drivers on the road
It’s the holidays, so it’s time for the obligatory – and sadly, necessary – warnings against drinking and driving.
We’ve seen celebrity examples of how common impaired driving is.
We’ve had our first holiday DUI fatality in Santa Clara County.
We’ve begun the annual “Avoid the 13” drunk driving crackdown that runs through New Year’s Day.
A review of a few sobering statistics is in order:
– In California in 2005, 40 percent of all traffic fatalities were alcohol related, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
– “Nearly 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence … That’s less than one percent of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving adults report each year, according to National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
– Repeat DUI offenders are more than 1.4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident compared to drivers who have never been convicted of DUI, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
– Repeat DUI offenders make up about one-third of all DUI arrests and convictions, according to MADD.
– Drunk driving cost the United States about $51 billion annually, according to the NCIPC.
Clearly, despite the significant strides our society has made over the last 30 years or so in changing the “wink wink” culture about drunk driving, there’s a long road ahead.
A good place to start is in the home. Parents must never serve alcohol to teens or tolerate its presence by knowingly ignoring it at parties. We must teach our children that a big part of drinking responsibly is obeying the laws around consuming it. If we teach them that it’s OK to ignore age-related consumption laws, why should we be surprised if they ignore laws against impaired driving?
First-time DUI offenders should always receive jail time and a lengthy license suspension.
Repeat DUI offenders should always receive significant jail time and even lengthier – perhaps permanent – license suspension.
In addition, given the extra risk and blatant and repetitive disregard for the safety of others that repeat offenders demonstrate, our society ought to consider revoking their right to purchase and consume alcohol for a significant period of time.
Driving is a privilege – one that is dangerous and even deadly when combined with alcohol.
Maiming or killing yourself or someone else is no way to celebrate the holidays.
Don’t drink and drive.
