According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 10,000 people were killed in traffic accidents linked to a driver under the influence of alcohol in 2011. Nearly 400 of these deaths occurred in the last two weeks of the month of December, a statistic some auto safety experts speculate can be tied to the number of holiday season gatherings where alcohol is served each year. In order to combat the risks posed by a possible increase in the number of intoxicated drivers on American highways, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation says, law enforcement agencies across the nation will send additional officers out on patrol.
In all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, drivers are legally prohibited from operating a motor vehicle if their blood alcohol content is .08 or higher. According to the 2011 accident statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving fatalities decreased last year in comparison to years past in 27 states. In Tennessee, New York, and South Carolina drunk driving fatalities decreased by more than 30 deaths in comparison to 2010, and Texas had the largest decrease in deaths with 57 fewer fatalities. Not every state saw a drop in drunk driving fatalities, however. New Jersey, Florida, and New Jersey all had an increase of 30 or more fatal accidents compared to the previous year.
In an effort to further decrease the number of deaths that occur due to drunk driving in the United States this year, the NHTSA launched a TV and radio ad campaign costing more than $7 million beginning this summer. This campaign has also had the cooperation of the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
According to a statement released by the NHTSA, drivers can avoid a DUI charge by planning ahead and designating a sober driver, taking a taxi, or calling a sober friend or family member to ask for a ride home.
Safety experts offer drivers several tips for spotting and avoiding drunk drivers on the road. Some signs that a vehicle is being driven under the influence include weaving between lanes, making extremely wide turns, driving without headlights, erratic braking and inappropriate stopping. If you suspect a nearby vehicle is being operated by a drunk driver, safety experts advise keeping as much distance as possible between it and your vehicle as possible. Do not attempt to pass the vehicle or follow it very closely.
