Every day, countless lives are impacted forever by the consequences of drunk driving. Not only can driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs result in serious injuries and even death for accident victims, but their families and loved ones can be confronted by a number of life-altering effects as well. To understand the true severity of DUI car accidents, it is helpful to consider a few drunk-driving statistics and practical prevention techniques.
According to MADD, drunk-driving accident rates may be more prevalent than many people believe. During the course of their lifetime, two out of three people in the U.S. are involved in some kind of DUI collision. It is also estimated that a little less than 25 percent of DUI accidents involve people between the ages of 21 and 25.
When considering the pervasiveness of drunk-driving offenses and collisions, incidents involving repeat offenders are disconcertingly high. On average, people are arrested for their first DUI offense after already driving drunk in around 80 incidents. And even after people are convicted of DUI and have their licenses suspended, they continue to drive in up to 75 percent of cases.
Despite the fact that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that drunk-driving accidents resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people in 2012, there are a number of simple measures that people can take to help protect themselves and their loved ones against being involved in a DUI incident. For instance, prearranging a ride home from a party or event where one is likely to consume alcohol is a great way to guarantee that he or she doesn't get behind the wheel of a car. People are also always advised to designate a non-drinking driver before attending any group activities.