According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day in the United States around 30 people die due to alcohol-related driving impairments, equating to one death every 48 minutes or so. Measures have been put in place, however, to curb impaired driving.cWhat Is Impaired Driving?
Impaired driving usually refers to operating a motor vehicle when your blood alcohol content is over the legal limit, which is 0.08 percent or higher in most states. Impaired driving can also involve operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs like marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamines, as well.cAt Risk
According to the CDC, youth, motorcyclists and drivers with prior impaired driving convictions are most at risk of impaired driving.One out of three fatal car accidents in 2009 that were alcohol-related involved drivers between 21 and 24 years of age.
Twenty-nine percent of motorcyclists killed in 2009 had blood alcohol content's of 0.08 percent and higher.
Impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 were eight times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving under the influence.c
Statistics
Ten thousand eight hundred and nine people were killed in 2009 as a result of alcohol-impaired driving accidents.Over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for impaired driving in 2009, equating to under one percent of the 147 million episodes of alcohol-impaired driving annually.
Marijuana, cocaine and other non-alcohol drugs are involved in approximately 18 percent of motor vehicle deaths every year.c
Prevention
Measures being taken to prevent impaired driving and fatalities due to impaired driving include:
Enforcing blood alcohol content laws.- Removing the licenses of those who drive while intoxicated.
- Sobriety checkpoints.
- Mandatory substance abuse treatment for impaired driving offenders.
- Possibly reducing the blood alcohol threshold to 0.05 percent.
- Raising state and federal alcohol excise taxes.
Possibly enforcing blood alcohol testing when car accidents result in injury.
Individuals can take the following precautions:
- Designate a non-drinking driver before going out to drink.
- Take away friends' keys so they won't drive impaired.
- Take a taxi home if you cannot drive safely.c
Common Synonyms
- DUI: Driving Under the Influence
- DWI: Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired
- OWI: Operating While Intoxicated/Impaired
- OVI: Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence
- BWI: Boating While Intoxicated/Impaired
References
Trash
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Course Introduction 0:00
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Part 1: Tools of the Trade 0:00
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Part 2: Motor Oil 0:00
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Part 3: Car Batteries 0:00
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Part 4: Windshield 0:00
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Part 5: Fluids 2:25
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Part 6: Washing 0:00
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How to Wash a Car 0:00
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How to Detail a Car 0:00
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How to Wax a Car 0:00
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How To Polish A Car 0:00
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How to Clean Car Tires 0:00
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Part 7: Tires 0:00
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How to Check Tires 0:00
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How to Rotate Tires 0:00
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How to Change a Flat Tire 0:00
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Car Wheels 0:00
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Cheap Tires 0:00
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Part 8: Car Safety 0:00
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Car Safety 0:00
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How to Deal With Auto Emergencies 0:00
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Impaired Driving 0:00
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How to Find a DUI Lawyer 0:00
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Seat Belts 0:00
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Fast Facts
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Fact:
Drivers are less likely to use seat belts after drinking alcohol -
Blood Alcohol Level
Percentage of alcohol in the blood by volume -
Punishments
Jail time, loss of license, fines, mandatory addiction counseling, community service -
Fact:
All states consider a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.08% or higher illegal
