subject: California Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Concerned About Crash Rates [print this page] California drunk driving accident lawyers have been very encouraged at the decline in the number of accidents caused by DUIs in recent years. Fewer people are likely to be killed in accidents caused by intoxicated drivers compared to what they used to be in the previous decades. However, in recent days, it has been very disconcerting to see a rise in the number of drunk driving accidents in the recent news headlines. All of these have serious implications.
Last month, a United Airlines pilot was found to be intoxicated as he showed up for duty. The pilot was arrested, and the news made headlines around the world. Then, there was the overzealous LazyBoy enthusiast in Minnesota, who fitted his recliner with headlights, a drink holder and a lawnmower engine, downed more than a few drinks, and barreled down the streets. He ended up crashing his recliner into a car. The man's alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.29. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident, and the incident was more of a joke than a safety issue.
In 2008, 11,173 people died in drunk driving accidents. Those numbers were down close to 10 percent from 13,041 in 2007. However, in 2008, intoxicated driving accident fatalities accounted for 32 percent of traffic accident fatalities.
Last year, according to FBI estimates, about one and a half million people were arrested for drunk driving.
There is also an increase in the number of women driving under the influence of alcohol. Between 2007 and 2008, the total number of people arrested for drunk driving dropped around the country. However, the number of intoxicated female motorists involved in fatal drunk driving accidents actually increased in 2008.
According to NHTSA records, the number of motorists aged between 16 and 20 years old killed in accidents involving drunk driving or motorcyclists, increased by 3.9 percent in 2006, compared to 2005.
In the 21 to 34 age group, the number of drunk driving fatalities increased .7 percent during the same period of time.
Stricter laws against drunk driving and the prospect of fines and suspensions have meant a drop in the number of fatalities caused by these preventable accidents. However drunk driving continues to account for a lion's share of the annual fatalities in the country. For the past few years in a row, citizens driving under the influence has accounted for approximately 30 percent of the country's annual highway traffic death toll. Every year, we lose an average of 11,000 people to intoxicated drivers.
Preventing drunk driving accidents is often just a matter of designating a sober driver who can take you home after a night of drinking. However, getting the designated driver to remain sober can be a challenge. Many cities in California now have designated driver services that, for a small fee, can pick you up from the venue, and drop you to your home. Services like these are becoming increasing popular in California, and DUI accident lawyers greatly recommend that persons who can't stop the drinks, hire such services to prevent accidents. Even one intoxicated motorist kept off the streets every day, can be enough to make a difference to these accident numbers.
