Drunk DrivingDrunk Driving

What Side Will You Be On?What Side Will You Be On?

The Deep Roots of BoozeThe Deep Roots of Booze

Jugs that Jugs that contained contained beer have beer have been found been found in sites in sites dating to dating to the late the late Stone AgeStone Age

FortunatelyFortunately, cave men , cave men didn’t drivedidn’t drive

Modern ConsequencesModern Consequences

• DWI/DUI arrests and trials

• Suspended/revoked drivers licenses

• Confiscated vehicle plates

• Impounded vehicles

• Arrests for open containers

• Fines and jail terms for drunk driving

• Mandatory alcohol education

Costs and CarnageCosts and Carnage

16,885 alcohol-related 16,885 alcohol-related traffic deaths in 2005—traffic deaths in 2005—an average of one every an average of one every 31 minutes.31 minutes.

86% were in crashes 86% were in crashes where at least one driver where at least one driver or victim had a BAC or victim had a BAC of .08 or higherof .08 or higher

Drinking is one of the Drinking is one of the most common factors in most common factors in mishap involving Sailors mishap involving Sailors aged 18-to-25.aged 18-to-25.

Alcohol-Related WrecksAlcohol-Related Wrecks

Four out of ten Four out of ten traffic deaths are traffic deaths are alcohol-related: alcohol-related: either the driver or either the driver or a victim had been a victim had been drinking.drinking.

““Alcohol-related” Alcohol-related” means at least one means at least one of the people of the people involved has a involved has a blood alcohol blood alcohol concentration (BAC) concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher.of .01 or higher.

Drinking makes wrecks Drinking makes wrecks worseworse

Among 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in wrecks in 2005, Among 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in wrecks in 2005, 28 percent had been drinking.28 percent had been drinking.

The more you drink, the worse the wreck. For 15- to 20-The more you drink, the worse the wreck. For 15- to 20-year-old drivers who had been drinking and crashed during year-old drivers who had been drinking and crashed during 2005, 2 percent of the wrecks only damaged property; 4 2005, 2 percent of the wrecks only damaged property; 4 percent injured someone; and 21 percent killed someone.percent injured someone; and 21 percent killed someone.

What’s it cost?What’s it cost? An estimated 254,000 An estimated 254,000

persons were injured in persons were injured in crashes where police crashes where police reported that alcohol reported that alcohol was present.was present.

Of the drivers who are Of the drivers who are killed in wrecks, about killed in wrecks, about twice as many males twice as many males (39%) had BACs at or (39%) had BACs at or above 0.08 compared to above 0.08 compared to females (19 percent). females (19 percent). The percentage was The percentage was highest among males highest among males ages 21-40.ages 21-40.

Danger after darkDanger after dark

Alcohol involvement Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes in fatal crashes peaks at night.peaks at night.

For wrecks between For wrecks between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., 58 percent of the 58 percent of the fatally injured fatally injured drivers had BACs at drivers had BACs at or above 0.08, or above 0.08, compared with 19 compared with 19 percent during percent during other hours.other hours.

More fatal factorsMore fatal factors

45% of the drivers 45% of the drivers fatally injured on fatally injured on weekends (6 p.m. weekends (6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday) have BACs at Monday) have BACs at or above 0.08, or above 0.08, compared with 24 compared with 24 percent at other times.percent at other times.

Only 28% of the fatally Only 28% of the fatally injured drivers injured drivers involved in nighttime involved in nighttime single-vehicle crashes single-vehicle crashes had no alcohol in their had no alcohol in their blood.blood.

Strict LawsStrict Laws

AllAll states now have a law states now have a law defining “impairment” as defining “impairment” as driving with a BAC at or driving with a BAC at or above 0.08, and making above 0.08, and making it illegal. it illegal.

AllAll states also have "zero states also have "zero tolerance" laws that tolerance" laws that prohibit people younger prohibit people younger than 21 from driving than 21 from driving after drinking. These after drinking. These laws usually prohibit laws usually prohibit driving with a BAC of driving with a BAC of 0.02 or greater.0.02 or greater.

More Than a Million ArrestsMore Than a Million Arrests

In 2004, the FBI In 2004, the FBI estimated that estimated that more than 1.4 more than 1.4 million drivers million drivers were arrested for were arrested for driving under the driving under the influence of influence of alcohol or drugsalcohol or drugs—an arrest rate —an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers licensed drivers in the U.S.in the U.S.

When the risk goes upWhen the risk goes up

The rate of alcohol The rate of alcohol involvement in involvement in fatal crashes is fatal crashes is more than three more than three times higher at times higher at night as during the night as during the day (59% versus day (59% versus 18%).18%).

In 2005, 30 In 2005, 30 percent of all fatal percent of all fatal crashes during the crashes during the week were alcohol-week were alcohol-related, compared related, compared to 52% on to 52% on weekends.weekends.

When the risk goes up, cont.When the risk goes up, cont.

The highest The highest percentage of drivers percentage of drivers in fatal crashes who in fatal crashes who had BAC levels of .08 had BAC levels of .08 or higher were ages or higher were ages 21 to 24.21 to 24.

A BAC as low as 0.02 A BAC as low as 0.02 has been shown to has been shown to affect driving ability.affect driving ability.

The probability of a The probability of a fatal crash rises fatal crash rises significantly after significantly after 0.05, and even more 0.05, and even more rapidly after about rapidly after about 0.08.0.08.

More drinks = Fewer More drinks = Fewer seatbeltsseatbelts

Drunk drivers are Drunk drivers are much less likely to much less likely to be wearing be wearing seatbelts.seatbelts.

Safety belts were Safety belts were used by only 28 used by only 28 percent of fatally percent of fatally injured drivers with injured drivers with BAC levels .08 or BAC levels .08 or higher, compared to higher, compared to 56 percent of fatally 56 percent of fatally injured drivers who injured drivers who were sober.were sober.

Alcohol adds more risksAlcohol adds more risks

Drivers are less likely to use seatbelts Drivers are less likely to use seatbelts when they have been drinking.when they have been drinking.

In 2005, 74 percent of the 15- to 20-In 2005, 74 percent of the 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in fatal crashes year-old drivers killed in fatal crashes who had been drinking weren’t who had been drinking weren’t wearing seatbelts.wearing seatbelts.

Drivers with BAC levels .08 or higher Drivers with BAC levels .08 or higher involved in fatal crashes were nine involved in fatal crashes were nine times more likely to have a prior times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving while impaired conviction for driving while impaired than were sober drivers.than were sober drivers.

The TruthThe Truth

Just because you Just because you don’t look or act don’t look or act drunk, that drunk, that doesn’t mean doesn’t mean you’re OK. Many you’re OK. Many alcohol-impaired alcohol-impaired drivers don’t drivers don’t look drunk in the look drunk in the traditional way.traditional way.

““Just one” may be more Just one” may be more than you thinkthan you think

Studies have shown Studies have shown that at BACs as low as that at BACs as low as 0.02, alcohol interferes 0.02, alcohol interferes with your ability behind with your ability behind the wheel and makes it the wheel and makes it more likely you’ll crash.more likely you’ll crash.

The probability of a The probability of a crash begins to crash begins to increase significantly at increase significantly at 0.05 BAC and climbs 0.05 BAC and climbs rapidly after about 0.08.rapidly after about 0.08.

Spotting a drunk driverSpotting a drunk driver

Tell-tale behaviors of DUI/DWI drivers:Tell-tale behaviors of DUI/DWI drivers:• Driving too fast or too slow for road Driving too fast or too slow for road

conditions.conditions.• Weaving or drifting across the center line, Weaving or drifting across the center line,

between lanes of traffic, and the side of the between lanes of traffic, and the side of the roadroad

• Using turn signals when they aren’t Using turn signals when they aren’t required.required.

• Swerving.Swerving.• Suddenly accelerating, hitting the brakes or Suddenly accelerating, hitting the brakes or

stopping for no apparent reason.stopping for no apparent reason.

Spotting a drunk driver, Spotting a drunk driver, cont.cont.

• Driving with the headlights off after dark.Driving with the headlights off after dark.• Swinging too wide when turning.Swinging too wide when turning.• Stopping abruptly at red lights or stop Stopping abruptly at red lights or stop

signs.signs.• Starting too slowly when a traffic light Starting too slowly when a traffic light

turns green.turns green.• Narrowly missing other cars or objects.Narrowly missing other cars or objects.• Turning abruptly or illegally.Turning abruptly or illegally.

What part of this sign is hard to What part of this sign is hard to understand?understand?