How Common Is Drunk Driving?

Roughly 28 people die each day in crashes involving drunk drivers. Broken down, that means there’s one death every 52 minutes in the United States. Unfortunately, it’s a common problem that causes even more severe injuries. While the numbers have reduced, and 2019 was one of the lowest percentages in the past four decades, it’s still a significant issue.

What are the Risk Factors?

Unfortunately, risk factors can often involve someone’s age, alcohol abuse, and more. Here are some of the factors and stats you should know about:

• The biggest factor is the act of drunk driving itself. In 2019, there were more than 10,000 people killed in drunk driving crashes.
• In 2018, younger drivers aged 15 to 20 with a BAC above .01 accounted for 24% of drunk driving deaths. The highest percentage (27%) involved drivers between 21 and 24 years old.
• Those who caused drunk driving accidents while having a .08 BAC or higher were 4 times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving under the influence.

How Much Does Blood Alcohol Concentration Impact Someone?

One of the most important numbers to know about is blood alcohol concentration levels. The legal limit is .08, which is relatively easy to reach if someone is smaller and drinks a significant amount of alcohol. Here’s how the blood alcohol levels impact someone:

• .02: barely intoxicated and some loss of judgment.
• .05: exaggerated behavior and impaired judgment.
• .08: bypassing the legal limit, and much more difficult to detect danger.
• .10: clear delayed reaction time, judgment impairment, and poor coordination.
• .15: major loss of balance, nausea, and impaired muscle control.

At Burnetti, P.A., we take drunk driving crashes seriously. We work hard to provide strong legal counsel during one of the most challenging times. Our Florida car accident attorneys are ready to help you every step of the way, and you can trust us to be your advocates through it all.