The Problem with Drinking and Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.” In 2016 alone, nearly 10,500 people died from alcohol-impaired crashes. Impaired driving costs billions of dollars every year and the problem only continues. Across the nation, every state has implanted stricter drunk driving laws. Recently, Utah lowered its legal drinking limit to 0.05 BAC (blood alcohol content) and the majority of other states have new ignition interlock device (IID) requirements. An IID is a portable breathalyzer that measures a person’s Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC) in order for them to start their car. If the IID registers a BrAC over the legal ignition limit, then the car will not start.
Drinking and driving affects every state. One of the most devastating statistics involves the number of children that are killed because of a drunk driver. According to the CDC, 17% of the traffic deaths among children 0 to 14 involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Unfortunately, millions of people in the United States and throughout the world suffer from alcohol addiction or dependence. Of the people with treatable substance abuse problems like Alcohol Use Disorder, only a small percentage ever get help.
The CDC does present a number of prevention options including:
- Strict and Active Enforcement of BAC Laws
- Zero-Tolerance Laws for Underage Drinkers
- Ignition Interlock Requirements
- Sobriety Checkpoints
- Providing Resources and Alcohol Education Programs
- Requiring Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment
- Raising the Unit Price of Alcohol
Together we can work to reduce the number of people impacted by drunk driving. The more people that choose not to get behind the wheel after drinking, the more lives can be saved. Make 2019 the safest year yet. Designate a sober driver, take public transportation, find a ride-share service or choose sobriety.