As we have previously mentioned on our Athens, Georgia, DUI defense law blog, it is illegal and extremely dangerous to drive while one is intoxicated. Individuals who are younger than 21 and caught driving with even a little amount of alcohol in their system could be convicted of underage DUI. Drivers who are 21 or older could be convicted of DUI with a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 or higher.
Those who do choose to drink and drive certainly risk being caught by police, but they are also taking risks with their own lives and the lives of others on the road. According to a new study, it is more than 50 percent likely that drivers will have alcohol or drugs in their system when killed in traffic accidents.
The study was conducted by researchers who analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the data, more men who drove drunk lost their lives compared to women who drove drunk. And the majority of alcohol-related accidents occurred on the weekend or at night.
Data from a journal called Addiction also reported that Asians were the least likely to test positive for alcohol or drugs after an accident, while African Americans, Native Americans and Caucasians were more likely to test positive for alcohol or drugs after a serious car crash.
Although illegal and prescription drugs are also seen during toxicology results following crashes, alcohol is the most common substance police find. Nearly 60 percent of the drivers out of 20,150 who lost their lives between 2005 and 2009 tested positive for one or more substances, researchers concluded.
With such a high number of driver fatalities resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, folks must think twice about the dangers they are creating for themselves and others on the roads before choosing to drive after drinking. Of course, those who are involved in drunk driving accidents in Georgia may want to consider working with an attorney who can provide counsel in such serious legal matters.
Source: Reuters, “Alcohol, drugs common in fatal crashes,” Genevra Pittman, Sept. 6, 2012