Drunk Driving:

Stats
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1 out of every 135 licensed drivers (or 1.4 Million people) in the United States is arrested for driving under the influence each year. (Source: NHTSA Annual Traffic Safety Facts)
• An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest.
• Centers for Disease Control. “Vital Signs: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults — United States, 2010.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. October 4, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6039a4.htm
• MADD serves a victim or survivor of drunk driving every nine minutes.
• (MADD data, 2010)
• This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes – one every 50 minutes.
• (NHTSA, 2009) Full cite: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ?2008 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment ? Highlights? DOT 811 172. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811172.pdf
• One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.
• (NHTSA, 2001; NHTSA FARS data) Full cite: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ?The Traffic Stop and You: Improving Communications between Citizens and Law Enforcement.? National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, March 2001, DOT HS 809 212. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/enforce/Traffic%20Stop%20&%20You%20HTML/TrafficStop_index.htm
• Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash.
• (Blincoe, et al, 2002; Miller et al, 1998) Full cites: Blincoe, Lawrence, et al. ?The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000.? Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2002. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/economic/EconImpact2000/ and Miller, Ted, Diane Lestina, and Rebecca Spicer. ?Highway Crash Costs in the United States by Driver Age, Blood Alcohol Level, Victim Age, and Restraint Use,? Accident Analysis and Prevention, 30, no. 2 (1998): 137-150.
• 50 to 75% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.
• (Peck, et al, 1995 and Beck et al, 1999) Full Cites: 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. and Beck, KH, et al. ?Effects of Ignition Interlock License Restrictions on Drivers with Multiple Alcohol Offenses: A Randomized Trial in Maryland.? American Journal of Public Health, 89 vol. 11 (1999): 1696-1700.
• Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year.
• (Taylor, et al 2002) Full cite: Taylor, Dexter; Miller, Ted; and Cox, Kenya. ?Impaired Driving in the United States Cost Fact Sheets.? Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2002. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/impaired_driving_pg2/US.htm
In 2004, Research for the Automobile Club of Southern California stated that a motorist convicted of a first-time DUI offense in California currently faces a total cost of $12,116. The cost includes minimum fines, $468; penalties, $780; vehicle towing and impound, $187; alcohol education class, $500; increase in auto insurance, $7,300; victim restitution fund, $100; DMV license reissue fee, $125; booking, fingerprinting and photo fee, $156, and attorney and legal fees, $2,500.
• Beginning January 1, 2007, if you request an out-of-house/public driving record printout, any DUI offense on your record will appear for 10 years from the violation date