DWI Facts & Statistics
The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates
DWI Attorney Representation in Houston, Texas since 1992
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a huge problem in our society. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates would like to offer a small collection of interested impaired driving facts. We hope the following facts and statistics may help people grasp the life altering effects of drinking and driving. Due to the efforts of advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the penalties and consequences of driving while intoxicated have become much harsher. Tad Nelson & Associates believe that through education we can encourage and convince our visitors to think carefully the next time they consider getting behind a wheel to drive after having a few too many.
DWI Facts & Statistics
- On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes—a decline of 9.8 percent from the 13,041 drunk driving related fatalities of 2007
- About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
- Fifty to 75 percent of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.
- By ages 19 and 20, 70 percent of all drinkers engage in heavy drinking, suggesting that the majority of young people are at great risk of making poor decisions that have significant long-term consequences.
- About 91 percent of all drinks consumed by teenagers are consumed by those who drink heavily.
- From 2006 to 2007, the rate of driving under the influence of alcohol among persons aged 18 to 25 decreased from 24.4 to 22.8 percent.
- In 2008, 92.2 percent of twelfth graders reported that alcohol is "very easy" or "fairly easy" to get.
- In 2007, the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was four times higher at night than during the day (36% versus 9%)
- In 2007, 31.6 percent of the 41,059 traffic fatalities occurred in crashes in which at least one driver or nonoccupant had a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or greater.
- A first time drunk driving offender on average has driven drunk 87 times prior to being arrested.
- An alarming 68% of children killed in alcohol-related crashes ride in a car with a drinking driver.
- Recent NHTSA statistics indicate that alcohol-related crashes cost society $40 billion. This conservative estimate does not include pain, suffering, or lost quality of life.
