Driving under the Influence

Drinking and driving continues to be a major problem on American highways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that, on average, there are approximately a million and a half driving-under-the-influence (DUI) convictions per year. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 130 licensed drivers in the United States. In addition, approximately 17,000 deaths per year are attributed to drinking and driving-related crashes. For example, in 2005, there were 16,885 confirmed drinking and driving-related fatalities, which represented 39% of the total traffic-related fatalities during that year. California and Florida had the highest alcohol-related fatality rates in 2005, while North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania fall into the second tier of highest fatality rates.

Although there has been greater awareness of the devastating losses brought ...