Drunk driving accidents are a serious problem in Texas. It’s important to know some of the numbers involving car accidents that are caused by driving under the influence.
How many people are killed by drunk driving accidents?
Drunk driving is one of the biggest reasons for fatalities in car accidents. Alcohol impairs the ability to drive safely and increases the risk of a crash.
Who is most likely to drive drunk?
Most people would automatically assume that the younger a driver is, the more likely they would be to drive drunk. While it’s generally true that younger drivers in the 16- to 20-year age group would take more risks due to the feeling of being invincible, drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 get into drunk driving accidents the most at 27%. This group is closely followed by drivers between 25 and 34, who are 25% most likely to drive drunk.
Drivers 21 to 24 are also most likely to be involved in fatal car crashes from drunk driving. Men also drive while intoxicated more than women. They account for 80% of all drunk driving accidents that result in deaths.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2018, Texas ranked as the state with the highest number of fatalities stemming from drunk driving accidents at 1,677.
Drunk driving is likely to cause many different types of car accidents. Head-on collisions are common when a driver becomes drowsy behind the wheel and veers into the wrong lane. They are often fatal.
Rear-end accidents occur when a driver is drunk because the driver’s judgment and reaction time is impaired and they are unable to stop in time. Pedestrians are also often victims of drunk drivers and are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or die.
Staying sober when you know you’ll be driving is the best course of action.