While it’s impossible to put an actual price tag on the many costs of driving under the influence of alcohol, the financial burden can be upwards of $40,000 to the person charged with a DUI. That figure doesn’t include the loss of time after the arrest or, in some instances, the loss of property or even life in the worst of cases.
Drinking and driving is a problem around the world but it seems to be a bigger problem in the United States than in many other countries. The fact that it’s easily preventable makes it all the more sad for everyone involved in a DUI accident.
We’re all aware that driving is a privilege, yet so many take it for granted and act like it’s an assumed right for everyone over the age of 16. Nonetheless, there are rules to be followed, and abstinence behind the wheel is meant to protect everyone, not just the person doing the drinking and driving.
The Infographic shown below titled, “Anatomy of a DUI,” shows just some of the many statistics compiled about drunk driving in America.
According to the data, in 2009, one alcohol related driving fatality occurred every 48 minutes. One in three people will be involved in an alcohol related driving accident at some point in their lifetime. In 2010, it’s estimated that there were over 1.4 million drunk driving arrests in the United States.
While the current law is set at 0.08 % blood alcohol content for a driver to be considered intoxicated, there is now serious talk about lowering it even further to 0.05 % to be guilty of a DUI.
Recent studies estimate that 4% of the U.S. population suffers from alcohol dependence and another 24% of the people abuse alcohol. Drunk driving accidents can be prevented and lives can be saved from being more responsible about drinking and driving.
We may not be able to get everyone with an alcohol related problem to stop abusing alcohol, but there’s always hope that we can save more lives from abstinence behind the wheel while intoxicated. This is one area where we can’t afford to be selfish, because the life that is saved may belong to somebody else. Please don’t drink and drive.
To view this infographic in full size, visit Infographic Journal.
