By Joseph Devine -
Driving while drunk is a serious mistake that can have severe consequences. Each time you get behind the wheel while intoxicated, you put yourself, your passengers, and other road users at risk of being involved in a serious accident. You also risk being stopped by police and arrested for driving while intoxicated. If convicted, your punishment may include suspension of your driver’s license, heavy fines, probation or jail time, and community service.
Alcohol-Related Crash Deaths
Despite the heavy penalties for drunk driving, many people still choose to get in the car while drunk. Each year thousands of people are killed in alcohol related accidents across the country. A report by the organization End Needless Death on Our Roadways found that, in several states, alcohol related road deaths accounted for 40 percent or more of all road deaths each year. The state with the highest alcohol related death rate was Rhode Island, with a whopping 55% of all traffic deaths involving alcohol. Rhode Island’s alcohol-related death rate has remained higher than the national average since 1982. The percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol in Rhode Island has been calculated between 45% and 67% each year, much higher than the national average of 30%.
It Could Be You
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that on average a person dies in an alcohol-related accident every 30 minutes. Even more alarming is the fact that impaired driving will affect one-third of Americans at some point in their lifetime, either by being a drunk driver, riding with a drunk driver, or being involved in an accident with an impaired driver. In 2002 alone, 17,419 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the U.S.
If you are drunk, don’t even risk getting the car. In many states, even just sitting in a parked car while drunk can result in an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) charge. Even if you just feel tipsy, wait until you are sober to drive or call a friend or taxi, or take the bus, bike, or walk home if possible. Don’t rely on a drunk friend to take you home, even if they say that they are okay to drive. If they have been drinking right alongside you, chances are they are still drunk too. Getting behind the wheel while drunk is not worth the risk of being arrested for a DUI, and it certainly isn’t worth the risk to your life or someone else’s.
For More Information
If you or someone you know has been arrested for drunk driving, consider contacting a DUI defense lawyer immediately to help you with your case. To learn more about drunk driving charges and preparing for court, please visit the website of experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly today.
Joseph Devine
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