DUI Prevention Tips to Ring In the New Year
As we entered the holiday season with Thanksgiving, we here at the Malloy Law Offices blog staff thought it appropriate to issue a reminder about DUI accidents. The holiday season is also the yearly peak for DUI arrests and accidents. Now, as we face the end of the holidays and the finale to 2024 as a whole, we’d like to reiterate our message. DUI prevention has never been easier than it is in this day and age. With New Year’s Eve coming, this plea to avoid drunk or impaired driving is more relevant than ever. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will further examine the issue of holiday DUI prevention.
Drunk Driving in Human Terms
The following can be negatively impacted by alcohol use:
- Decision Making
- Reaction Time
- Muscle Coordination
- Alertness
- Ability to Remain Conscious
The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood at a given concentration can be used to gauge their level of intoxication. Blood alcohol concentration is the term for this. The chance of a collision grows dramatically at 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter. The legal limit in 49 of the 50 US states and Puerto Rico is 0.08 BAC. (The legal limit in Utah is much lower, at 0.05 BAC.)
The Raw and Sobering Data Behind DUI Accidents
An average of 37 Americans lose their lives in drunk driving accidents each day, according to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). That equates to one death every 39 minutes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 13,524 persons lost their lives in traffic accidents involving drivers who had an unlawful blood alcohol content in 2022. Another 2,337 people lost their lives in collisions involving drivers whose blood alcohol content was between 0.01 and 0.07. This indicates that around 37% of all traffic fatalities that year were caused by drunk driving.
These figures are startling. They become even more so when we realize that these fatalities only make up a small portion of all drunk driving cases. One million people are arrested for driving under the influence in the US each year, according to data gathered by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). However, even that number does not adequately represent the number of Americans who intentionally endanger their lives and the lives of the public at large by driving while intoxicated.
Make a Plan This New Year’s Eve
Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group this New Year’s, you should have a clear understanding of how you plan to travel to and from any party, bar, or club you attend. For our readers in the DC metro area, we urge you to consider public transportation. After a night out, a train or bus offers a cost-effective and secure way to return home. By arranging for a ride or making accommodations for an inebriated guest, the host can also significantly contribute to the prevention of DUI accidents. This is to say nothing of the “designated driver” system, wherein one member of the group refrains from psychoactive substances to ensure the rest of their party is transported safely.
Even so, we acknowledge that many of our readers might not have access to the DMV’s robust public transportation system or a responsible buddy group to guarantee a secure ride. However, you will be able to use a ridesharing service. For anyone in need of transportation, Uber and Lyft are a blessing. Finding a ride is frequently rather easy, even in far-flung places. However, individuals continue to avoid this choice in favor of careless, reckless drunk driving. These shortsighted people often cite the price of a ride as prohibitive. It is rarely considered until it is much too late how much a DUI citation, auto repair, or personal injury case will cost.
How Malloy Law Can Help
Malloy Law can assist if a drunk driver injured you or a loved one. Our skilled auto accident specialists will assess your case at no cost to you. They’ll devise a strategy to get the greatest amount of compensation possible. Let’s win your case by getting in touch with Malloy Law right away!
