In a previous post, we shared with you that the month of December is being observed as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. It is therefore timely that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of a survey that indicated that millions of Americans take the wheel despite being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to a feature on CBS News, 30 million Americans drive while drunk over the course of an average year, while 10 million drive while under the influence of drugs, according to the results of the survey. There was, however, a significant variation between the rates of DUI among the states. Wisconsin and North Dakota have DUI rates of more than 20 percent, at 23.7 and 22.4 percent respectively. Rhode Island and Vermont have the highest rates of driving under the influence of drugs, at 7.8 and 6.6 percent respectively.

Of the percentage of drivers who drove drunk, it was determined that drivers who belong to the 16 – 25 years old age group drove drunk more than those who were older.

Despite these statistics, it may be comforting to note that there has been a decline in the incidence of drunk and drugged driving in the past few years.

Pamela Hyde, administrator of SAMHSA, shared: “Thousands of people die each year as a result of drunk and drugged driving, and the lives of thousands of family members and friends left behind are forever scarred… Some progress has been made in reducing the levels of drunk and drugged driving through education, enhanced law enforcement and public outreach efforts. However, the nation must continue to work to prevent this menace and confront these dangerous drivers in an aggressive way.”

Related posts

• Sen. Chuck Schumer Wants Drugged-Driving Tests (0)
• Drunk Driving Takes Away Teen’s Life (0)
• December is National 3D Prevention Month (0)
• Teen Leaders Plan for Safer Prom and Graduation Season (0)
• Teen Killed by Adult, Unlicensed Drunk Driver (0)