Sunday, November 4, 2012

DUI Help, Drunk Driving Statistics And Information

By Annie S. Williamson


Every last bit of drunk driving statistics and info points towards the legal and physical dangers therein. That doesn't stop four million drivers from tanking up and hitting the gas to create 112 million possible alcohol related traffic violations every year. This gets whittled down to nearly 11,000 fatalities. That means about one in three motor vehicle fatalities in the U. S. Are alcohol-related.

This may sound bad, but the DUI numbers have actually dropped 30 percent in the second half of the past decade. This is likely the result of tougher zero percent tolerance state laws. The zero percent here refers to the blood alcohol concentration or BAC level.

Everyone who drives is very likely aware of what a breathalyzer is used for. But very few know how each drink deteriorates the ability to drive. A BAC of . 02% can cause the driver to lose judgment, the ability to divide attention to different tasks and follow fast moving targets. This is the first step across the line when it comes to BAC levels.

When it hits . 05%, the driver finds it hard to respond to emergencies and is unable to control the steering. Take it up to . 08% and the driver loses sight of traffic signals and cannot control the vehicle's speed. One more and it's . 10% where there are no lanes or brakes. When the BAC hits . 15%, the driver is throwing up and has no idea he or she is driving a vehicle.

It is far easier to avoid getting into a vehicle after drinking. But then, the stats show that four million people do it anyway. This means any male aged 21-35 has a very good chance of being stopped for a DUI check, and many are going to fail a sobriety test or breathalyzer. For these drivers, the only way out of the pickle they are in is to accept a plea deal or contest the DUI charge on a technicality.

The law says that the police need probable cause. If it can be shown in court that the law enforcement officer who stopped the vehicle had no probable cause, then the DUI and other infractions are no longer valid. There are many such loopholes that can be used effectively in traffic court.

It can be shown that law enforcement erred with an improper search of the vehicle, the breathalyzer was faulty, or the suspect was not informed about his or her rights. That said, it's still a good idea not to tempt fate given the drunk driving statistics and info. One person somewhere in the U. S. Dies every 48 minutes because of an alcohol-linked crash. Those who survive have to pay big-time, with the medical and property damage costs piling up to a stunning $51 billion.




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1 comment:

  1. Early detection of DUI drivers lessen car accidents. It is best for police to monitor time to time especially holiday season, impose checkpoint on high end road to arrest DUI drivers. To ask more details about this ask DUI lawyers.

    Joseph @ drink driving interlock

    Sydney Drink & Drug Driving lawyers
    Beazley Singleton Lawyers
    14/370 Pitt St
    Sydney NSW 2000
    (02)9283 8622
    sydneydrinkdriving.com.au

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