It is no secret that motorists who drink and drive endanger you and anyone else they encounter. Yet, drunk driving remains a widespread and substantial problem across New Jersey and the rest of the nation. Consuming alcohol before driving has the potential to impact everything from judgment and muscle coordination to self-control, reasoning and reaction time, so drivers who drink before getting behind the wheel pose a serious threat to you and everyone else.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a drunk driver kills someone every 50 minutes across the United States, with an average of 30 people losing their lives because of drunk drivers every day. In total, drunk drivers are responsible for the deaths of more than 10,000 people each year in the United States alone.
Risk factors associated with drinking and driving
Research shows that many people who drink and drive share similar aspects in common. Drunk drivers are often young, with males between the ages of 24 and 27 among those most likely to commit the offense. Statistics show that for every female drunk driver who endangers you on the road, there are four male drivers doing the same thing.
The repeat-offender factor
Also troubling is the fact that many who drink and drive have offended before. Drivers who caused fatal crashes and had blood-alcohol contents of 0.08 or higher were four times more likely to have prior drunk driving convictions than those who caused deadly crashes without having alcohol in their systems.
Find more about injuries and fatalities caused by drunk drivers on our webpage.