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Keeping Families Safe: DUI

Drinking and Driving Guy at the pub no moreOn average, two in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime.1 While alcohol is the most common substance, drugs can also contribute to accidents. There is no excuse for choosing to drive while impaired. Help stop impaired driving by learning about and raising awareness of the issue. Read and share the following facts and tips to have a safer driving experience:

  • Make a plan before your night out, coordinate with a designated driver, set up a rider share app, or look up what public transportation is available.
  • If you think you’ll be tempted to drive home while intoxicated, give your keys to a sober friend.
  • Eat dinner and drink plenty of water before going out.
  • Never get in a car with a driver who is impaired.
  • If you’re out on the road and see an impaired driver, don’t engage. Pull over and call the police.

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Arizona Law 2

  • It is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher, however, even lower alcohol levels can affect driving ability.
  • In 2018, 1,878 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes where drivers had lower alcohol levels.
    1. 0.2% BAC-Decline in visual functions.
    2. 0.5% BAC-Reduced coordination, difficulty steering.
    3. 0.8% BAC-Concentration, speed control, impaired perception.
    4. 0.10% BAC-Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately.
    5. 0.15% BAC-Complete impairment in vehicle control.
  • Once you are pulled over and suspected of driving under the influence, a field test will be administered.
  • Refusal to take the test will result in a one-year automatic suspension of your license and a minimum of 24 hours in jail, a $250 base fine, and an interlock ignition device.
  • A second or third offense will result in your license being suspended for two years.

Man arrested on highway

Statistics

  • In Arizona, law enforcement officers made over 1 million traffic stops in 2018 and 27,653 DUI arrests. 3
  • Not wearing a seatbelt and speeding while driving are common factors in drunk driving crashes. 3
  • In 2010, drunk driving deaths and damages contributed to a cost of $44 billion nationally. 4

Drivers

  • In general, men are more likely than women to be involved in a fatal drunk driving crash. 4
  • In the 2018 AZ Youth Survey, 20.2% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders reported drinking alcohol during the past 30 days. 5
  • Any amount of alcohol increases the risk of a car crash among teens as compared to other adults. 6
  • Adults age 21 to 34 are responsible more alcohol related fatal crashes than any other age group. 7

Fatalities

  • Every 48 minutes in America, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. That’s equal to 30 people every day. 4
  • In 2018, there were 10,511 deaths from drunk-driving crashes. 7

Resources

Sources

  1. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed January 2020. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf
  2. “Impaired Driving.” AZ Department of Public Safety. Accessed January 2020. https://www.azdps.gov/safety/impaired-driving
  3. Gutier, Alberto C. “State of Arizona Highway Safety Annual Report, 2018.” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Accessed January 2020. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/az_fy2018_ar_0.pdf
  4. “Drunk Driving.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed January 2020. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
  5. “2018 Arizona youth Survey State Report.” Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Accessed January 2020. https://staging.azcjc.gov/sites/default/files/pubs/2018_AYS_State_Report_FINAL.pdf
  6. “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
  7. “Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol Impaired Driving,2016.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed January 2020. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812450