Despite state and federal efforts to reduce drunk driving, a new U.S. Department of Transportation study shows that one in five drivers admits to driving a vehicle within two hours of consuming alcohol.
Consumer Reports says the study also shows that the number of drinking and driving trips per month has risen to 85.5 million, reversing a 15-year trend. Those numbers had been in decline since 1995.
DUI Facts and Figures
The Department of Transportation's study also showed the following facts about drinking and driving in America:
- Eight percent of people reported riding in a vehicle with someone they considered too drunk to drive
- 24 percent of males between the ages of 21 and 24 had ridden with a DUI driver
- Eight percent of all drivers admit to having driven drunk in the past year
- One percent of drivers have been arrested for DUI in the past two years
- Five percent of men between the ages of 21 and 24 have been arrested for DUI in the past two years
According to the Century Council, there were 39,746 people arrested for DUI in Arizona in 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
DUI Crackdown
Since 1995, Arizona has cut its fatality rate from drunken driving in half, but lawmakers want to do better. This year, a new law took effect, cracking down on so-called extreme drunk drivers: those with a blood alcohol content of .20 and above.
First offenders of the new law face a minimum of 180 days in jail, as well as a $1,000 fine.
According to the Arizona Republic, state government spending on DUI enforcement and other measures has skyrocketed: up 800 percent since 2004.
Effective DUI Defense
That increased enforcement means a lot of Arizonans are finding themselves staring at harsh penalties for DUI, including loss of license, jail time, fines and higher insurance premiums. If you have been charged with DUI, contact a Phoenix, Arizona DUI attorney who knows the law and how to uncover improper police procedures and faulty DUI testing methods. An experienced DUI lawyer helps you fight to preserve your freedom and ability to drive.
