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 on by drunk driving by organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), and the more widespread acceptance of designated drivers, there is still much work that needs to be done to reduce the incidence and prevalence of DUI. It is noteworthy that per capita alcohol consumption does not always correlate with increased incidence of DUI. For example, New Hampshire has one of the highest per capita alcohol consumption rates in the United States, but New Mexico, with lower consumption rates, has higher rates of DUI arrests and fatalities. Although there is a plethora of research that examines blood alcohol levels at the time of arrest, there are few studies that look at individuals who drive under the influence of mood-altering drugs other than alcohol. Usually when drug levels are obtained, it is when an individual has been involved in an accident that requires emergency room treatment. In those instances, a toxicology screen usually is performed, which helps ascertain if the individual was driving under the influence of drugs. It is estimated, therefore, that there are far more individuals driving under the influence of mood-altering substances (both licit and illicit) than is reported in the DUI arrest or fatality statistics.