Understanding the Dangers of Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is a major problem that affects not only the driver but also other road users, passengers, and pedestrians.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving was responsible for 13,384 deaths in 2021, a 14% increase from 2020.

That means every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 39 minutes. These deaths could have been avoided.

How Does Alcohol Affect Driving Ability?

Alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination. These abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely.

Some of the effects of alcohol on driving performance include:

• Reduced coordination, reaction time, vision, and hearing
• Impaired judgment, reasoning, self-control, and memory
• Difficulty steering, speed control, and emergency response
• Loss of attention, concentration, and visual search

The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration

Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then it passes and accumulates in the bloodstream until the liver metabolizes it.

The weight of the alcohol in a specific volume of blood measures a person’s alcohol level. This is called Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC.

BAC is measured with a breathalyzer, a device that measures the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath, or by a blood test.

At a BAC of 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is 0.05.

However, even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment, coordination, reaction time, vision, hearing, and memory. In 2021, 2,266 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes where drivers involved had a BAC of 0.01 to 0.07 g/dL.

The following table lists the effects of BAC on drivers at different levels:

Drunk Driving Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol-impaired drivers are a key risk factor for 27% of all road injuries and a significant source of injury, disability, and death worldwide.

Drunk driving is not only a threat to the driver’s life but also to the lives of others on the road. In 2021, among children (14 and younger) killed in motor vehicle crashes, 25% were killed in drunk-driving crashes. Of those deaths, more than half the time (55%), the child killed was in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver.

Alcohol-impaired driving also has economic and social costs. According to Forbes Advisor, drunk driving costs the U.S. economy $44 billion annually in medical expenses, lost productivity, property damage, and legal fees. This also damages the relationships, careers, and reputations of those involved.

Drunk Driving Risk Factors

• The risk of a fatal crash rises sharply with increasing blood alcohol content (BAC): at 0.08 g/dL BAC, the risk is four times higher, and at 0.15 g/dL BAC, it’s 12 times higher compared to sober drivers.
• Approximately 31% of US traffic-related deaths result from drunk driving with BAC levels of 0.08 or higher, even small alcohol amounts impair driving.
• Driver age influences crash risk: the 21-24 and 25-34 age groups have the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers.
• In 2021, these age groups accounted for 27% and 25% of fatal crashes involving drivers with BACs of 0.08 or higher.
• Youthful drivers tend to binge drink and drive without seat belts, elevating injury risks.
• Drivers with past DUI convictions are more prone to repeating the offense and causing severe crashes.
• Around one-third of DUI offenders have prior convictions, and in 2021, 25% of drivers in fatal crashes had previous DUI convictions.
• Motorcycle riders are 28% more likely to be in fatal crashes than other vehicle types.

Consequences of Driving Drunk

Alcohol-impaired driving can have devastating consequences for yourself and others. Not only are you putting your own life and health at risk, but you are also endangering the lives of other road users, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Drunk driving crashes can result in serious injuries, disabilities, emotional trauma, or death. Additionally, alcohol-impaired crashes can have legal, financial, and social repercussions. Depending on the scope of the crash, you may need to shoulder hefty costs from higher car insurance rates, legal fees, medical bills, or property damage.

Meanwhile, if you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may face charges ranging from misdemeanors to felony offenses.

Traffic Safety Facts

While alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of car crashes, fortunately, laws and measures are being enforced to reduce impaired driving incidence and promote road safety by deterring impaired driving, providing consequences for offenders, and raising awareness about the risks involved.

• Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limit. Most countries have established legal BAC limits, typically around 0.08%.
• Zero Tolerance Laws for Young Drivers. These laws set a BAC limit of 0.00% or a very low limit (0.02%) for drivers below the legal drinking age.
• Administrative License Suspension. In some places, if a driver is suspected of driving under the influence and refuses to take a breathalyzer or blood test, their license can be immediately suspended administratively.
• Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs). IIDs are breathalyzer-like devices installed in vehicles that require the driver to provide a breath sample before starting the car. Many jurisdictions require repeat DUI offenders or those with high BAC levels to use IIDs.
• Sobriety Checkpoints. Law enforcement agencies often conduct sobriety checkpoints, where drivers are stopped randomly or systematically to determine if they are driving under the influence.
• Enhanced Penalties. Many jurisdictions impose harsher penalties such as higher fines, longer license suspensions, mandatory alcohol education programs, and even jail time for drunk driving offenses, especially for repeat offenders or those involved in accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.
• Public Awareness Campaigns. Governments, organizations, and advocacy groups run public awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving and encourage responsible behavior.

Drunk Driving and Addiction Treatment

Drunk driving is often considered a sign of alcohol addiction or abuse. If you cannot control your drinking or frequently drive drunk, you may need professional help to overcome your alcohol problem. Without treatment, alcohol addiction can lead to serious health complications or death.

Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available for alcohol addiction. One of the options you can consider is alcohol treatment and rehab. This can help you reduce your risk of drunk driving and improve your health, relationships, and quality of life.

There are different types of alcohol treatment and rehab programs, depending on your needs, preferences, and resources. Some of them are:

• Detoxification
• Inpatient rehab
• Outpatient rehab
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Behavioral therapy

Find Support for Alcohol Addiction

Don’t let drunk driving claim more lives. By choosing not to drink and drive, you can save yourself and others from harm.

However, if you’re struggling with controlling your alcohol consumption, it may be time to seek help.

Seeking support and making healthy choices can help you overcome addiction and live a fulfilling, sober life. Design for Recovery, a leading sober living home in Los Angeles, offers a safe and supportive environment with individualized care, peer mentorship, and life skills development for those struggling with addiction or substance abuse.

Remember, seeking help for alcohol addiction is a courageous step towards a healthier future. You don’t have to let alcohol control your life and your choices. Contact Design for Recovery today and take the first step toward recovery and a brighter tomorrow.