When a person drives drunk, it could impact anyone around them on Massachusetts roads. These are some of the sobering statistics on this type of behavior.
Drunk driving is a major factor in fatal car accidents
Drunk driving is one of the biggest factors causing car accidents resulting in fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 28 people per day are killed in accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol. This equates to one person killed every 52 minutes and 10,000 individuals killed per year.
How alcohol affects driving
Although the legal blood alcohol concentration rate is .08, some drivers can become intoxicated with an even smaller level of alcohol in their system. This is because of factors like weight, gender and age. For example, in 2020, more than 2,000 people died in drunk driving accidents caused by drivers whose BAC levels were between .01 and .07.
Different levels of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream can lead to varying types of impairment, which can have serious impacts if they get behind the wheel. For example, even with a BAC of .02, a person’s judgment can become impaired and their ability to focus on the road and their driving may be compromised.
Groups most likely to drive drunk
Younger drivers between 21 and 24 are the most at risk of driving drunk. Those between 25 and 34 years old are the second-highest group likely to get into accidents caused by alcohol consumption. Males are more likely to drive drunk and make up around 80% of all deaths stemming from drunk driving accidents.
So far in 2022, Massachusetts has seen 41% of traffic fatalities occur due to drunk driving. This equates to 146 lives tragically lost.
Drunk driving is not worth the risk. If you’re going to consume alcohol, find a ride to keep yourself and others safe.