Posted in: | Jan 05,2018
Drunk driving continues to remain the number one threat facing American motorists. Approximately one-third of all drivers who die in alcohol-related car accidents have a blood-alcohol concentration of a minimum of .08%. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, that percentage has hardly budged over a period of two decades.
In 2015 alone, close to 7,000 fatalities were directly linked to motorists driving with a blood-alcohol concentration above the permissible limit of .08%. Alcohol beverage companies have tried to promote the theory that drugs are now responsible for more crash fatalities than alcohol. These corporations quote data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System which showed that in 2015, 46% percent of all car accident fatalities that year had drugs in their system at the time of the accident.
However, it is essential to keep things in perspective. Alcohol continues to remain the most dangerous drug for motorists and is responsible for more car accident fatalities annually than any drug, including marijuana. Experts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also insist that linking the rise in fatal car accidents across the United States with increased self-reporting of marijuana use by American motorists, is inaccurate. The increase in fatal car accidents in the country may have more to do with the improved economy which has resulted in greater vehicle miles traveled and an increase in the number of motorists on the roads. It is a fact that when the economy is good, people tend to drive more, especially for recreational purposes. The rise in marijuana use by American motorists does not indicate that drunk driving is no longer a significant threat.
The fact is that alcohol continues to place American motorists at risk of causing harm, not just to themselves, but also to other drivers on the road. It’s not hard to understand why alcohol-related car accidents wreak such a heavy toll. These are typically high-speed accidents, which result in higher impact. High-impact collisions are much more likely to cause fatal injuries.
There are many things you can do to protect yourself and others to help avoid becoming a drunk driving statistic.
- Drink responsibly, and always avoid drinking if you know you’re going to be driving later.
- Make smart and informed choices about how you will get home after a night of revelry. Fortunately, there are many options, including taxi services and ridesharing apps, to help you make a safe and informed decision.
- Be a responsible host. Make arrangements for your guests to get home safely after drinking at your venue. Arrange for cabs to get intoxicated guests home.
- Take away the car keys of an intoxicated guest who insists on driving himself – you could be saving a life or lives.
- If all else fails, make arrangements for guests to stay over at your venue.
The Indiana car accident lawyers at Montross Miller represent persons who have been injured as a result of alcohol-related car accidents all across the state of Indiana. If your loved one has suffered injuries in an alcohol-related car accident, get in touch with an attorney at our firm, and discuss your legal options for a claim.
