ADECA - Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

Alabama "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Crackdown

Make the Crackdown Count: August 15 – September 1, 2008

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Video Message: Alabama Over the Limit - Under Arrest

Alabama Fact Sheet

Alabama Alcohol Fatalities

In Alabama, impaired driving is a crime and will not be tolerated

· Impaired driving is one of America’s most-often-committed and deadliest crimes.

In 2006, 13,470 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. These fatalities accounted for 32 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States.
In 2006, of the 13,470 people who died in an alcohol-impaired driving crashes, 8,615 (64 percent) were drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
15 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes during the week were alcohol-impaired, compared to 31 percent on weekends.
In addition, an estimated 275,000 persons are injured or disfigured yearly by alcohol-impaired drivers. One third of these are children.
One American is injured approximately every two minutes in an alcohol-related crash somewhere in the nation.
In fatal crashes in 2006, the highest percentage of drivers with a BAC level of .08 or higher was for drivers ages 21-24 (33%), followed by ages 25-34 (29%) and 35-44 (25%).

v Alcohol affects those skills essential to operating a motorcycle—balance and coordination. So it plays a particularly big role in motorcycle fatalities.

In 2006, 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single vehicle crashes had BAC levels of .08 or higher.
59 percent of those killed in single-vehicle crashes on weekend nights had BACs of .08 or higher.
The age groups 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 are those with the highest rates of alcohol involvement for motorcycle riders killed in fatal crashes.

v Preventative measures for drinking, driving and riding:

If you are planning to drink alcohol with friends, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
If impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, call a sober friend or family member, or use your community’s Sober Rides program.
Wear your seat belt while in a car or use a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle as these are your best defenses against an impaired driver.
Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

Drinking and driving fatalities by state in 2005 (ranked by highest number of alcohol related deaths):

State	Total Fatalities	Alcohol-Related Fatalities
State	Total Fatalities	Number	Percent
Florida	3,363	1,111	33%
Georgia	1,688	539	32%
Tennessee	1,286	478	37%
Alabama	1,206	445	37%
Mississippi	911	358	39%

National	42,532	15,829	37%
Puerto Rico	507	176	35%

That’s why…

Our message is simple – Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
Law enforcement will be out in force across the nation this Labor Day weekend cracking down on drunk drivers.

No matter what you drive – a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle – if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you.

Far too many people still don’t understand that alcohol, drugs, and driving don’t mix. Impaired driving is no accident – nor is it a victimless crime.

Fortunately…

Much of the tragedy that comes from impaired driving crashes could be prevented if everyone would take a few simple precautions. Always follow these tips for a safe Labor Day weekend:

Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;

If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;
Wearing your safety belt while in a car or using a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle is your best defense against an impaired driver;
And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

And just in case you didn’t know: Buzzed driving is drunk driving!

Alcohol and Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

Alcohol affects those skills essential to operating a motorcycle – balance and coordination. So it plays a particularly big role in motorcycle fatalities.

Twenty-eight percent of all fatally injured motorcycle operators had BAC levels of .08 or higher. An additional 6 percent had lower alcohol levels (BAC .01 to .07).

Forty-one percent of the 1,672 motorcycle operators who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2004 had BAC levels of .08 or higher.

The age groups 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 are those with the highest rates of alcohol involvement for motorcycle operators in fatal crashes.

Impaired Driving Creates Serious Consequences

The tragedies and costs from driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injury caused by impaired drivers.

Driving or riding a motorcycle while impaired is not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.

Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

Refuse a sobriety test in many jurisdictions and you can lose your license on the spot and have your car impounded.

Plus, there is the added embarrassment, humiliation, and potential loss and consequence after informing family, friends and employers.

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

Drunk driving is a serious crime.

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.4 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2004.

That’s why law enforcement will be out in force looking for drunk drivers. Don’t take the risk. Remember Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a comprehensive impaired driving prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

This year’s effort is supported by $11 million in paid national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested.

Drunk Driving.

Over the Limit. Under Arrest.