Drunk Driving Deaths Increased in 2012
By MADD | November 14, 2013|
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new data last month showing 10,322 drunk driving fatalities in 2012—compared to 9,865 in 2011.
For the first time in six years, drunk driving deaths have increased. And not just by a little – by almost five percent.
NHTSA also announced that overall traffic fatalities increased to 33,561, which is a 3.3 percent increase from last year. So the fact that drunk driving deaths increased at an even higher rate is extremely alarming. It shows us that there is an urgent need to vigilantly take action to eliminate drunk driving and double-down on drunk driving countermeasures that are proven to work through the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
To date, 20 states have passed laws to require all convicted drunk drivers to use an breath ignition system and have seen significant decreases in drunk driving deaths. MADD claims that:
- Drunk driving costs each adult in the United States almost $500 per year.
- An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before his or her first arrest.
- One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.
- 50% – 75% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.
- Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol related.
- Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.
Of the approximate 2,700 traffic related deaths in California 28% was related to, drunk/drugged driving which have remained flat at 774 for the last two years. Both record (66 yr.) lows.
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