DWI has been considered a major public issue for many years now. States have been under a lot of pressure to enact laws to punish and prevent DWIs. The reason for this is made clear in numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every day, on average, almost 30 people die in alcohol related crashes. The estimated annual cost of DWI crashes are $59 billion. Between the human toll and the economic loss, the federal and state governments have determined that strict laws are required for DWIs.
Almost one-third of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol. If drivers were not impaired, a large number of these wrecks would be prevented. Aside from the laws that have been effective, how effective has enforcement been? According to a study done on Impaired Driving in 2010, there are some fairly shocking numbers. Nationwide, over 1.4 million people were arrested for driving while impaired. This is just around one percent of the 114 million self reported instances of driving under the influence each year. While these are rough numbers, it really puts the problem in perspective. The odds of getting caught seem to be low, but once you are caught, you can really face very stiff penalties.
It isn’t just alcohol that results in deaths. About 18% of all motor vehicle deaths are related to impairment by a substance other than alcohol. While not as prevalent as cases of alcohol based impairment, that is still a shocking number. These accidents include ones that involve all manner of drugs, including prescription medication.
If you have taken any impairing substance, including certain prescription medication, do not get behind the wheel. If you have been charged with DWI, you can be given strict punishment. Give our office a call, we would be glad to help.
