>Drunk Driving is the nation's most frequently committed crime, killing more than 17,000 people (2002). More than 500,000 people are injured in alcohol related crashes each year, an average of one person per minute, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to the CDC report, between 1997 and 2002, more than 2,000 children died in traffic accidents involving drunken drivers. Of the children killed, about 70% were riding in a car with a driver who had been drinking.
About 1.4 million drivers were arrested in 2001 for DUI. Of those 50 - 70% continue to drive with a suspended license. (MADD). DUI charges are different from state to state, example punishment includes over $1,000 fine, 3 years of probation, 3 - 5 days sheriff work, and first offender school.
Alcohol related crashes cost the public an estimated $115 billion annually, including an estimated $64 billion lost in quality of life due to those crashes according to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Nationally the economic costs for drunk driving come from medical, emergency services, market productivity, insurance administration, workplace cost, legal cost and more. The estimated cost per injured survivor was $99,000. (2000, MADD)
Over 1,400 people under the age 21 were killed in traffic accident in 2003 during Spring Break. Of those, 451 lost their lives in alcohol related crashes. (NHTSA)
Federal government Dietary Guideline says, moderate drinking is no more than one drink per day for women, and no more than two drinks per day for men. The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or talking a cold shower will not help according to MADD.
Impairment is not determined by the type of drink, but rather by the amount of alcohol ingested over a specific period of time. Beer is the most commonly consumed by people stopped by alcohol-related driving or involved in alcohol-related crashes. It is important to know that the standard serving of all type of alcohol, beer, wine and distilled spirit each contains the same amount of alcohol. (Distilled Spirits Council)
When police stop suspected drunk drivers, typically they require drivers to blow into a breathalyzer to determine blood alcohol contents (BAC). Recent report by Wall Street Journal said now more states are requiring authorities to take blood sample by force if needed.Currently Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada and Texas have laws that allow police officers to obtain blood test in DUI cases. Seven other states passed laws that permit police to take blood without the driver's consent. Most people show measurable mental impairment at around .05 BAC. (NHTSA)
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is the largest crime victim's assistance organisation in the world with more than 3 million members and supporters. The organisation helped lower the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level from .10 to .08. The mission of MADD is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking.MADD is not a prohibitionist group or anti-alcohol or even anti-alcohol industry.