New data on fatal alcohol-impaired crashes reveals that truckers involved in large truck accidents were far less likely to be driving while impaired?than were drivers of smaller vehicles.
The study, recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, looked at alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2010. It found, amazingly, that an average of one alcohol-related driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes during that year.
It also found that drivers involved in fatal car crashes were more likely to be driving while impaired by alcohol -- that is, driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit of .08 -- if they were young and if they were driving vehicles that were smaller than large trucks.
Specifically, the NHTSA found that thirty-four percent of drivers aged 21 to 24 who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC over .08. That percentage dropped to thirty percent for those aged 25 to 34, and to twenty-five percent for those aged 35 to 44. Only 8 percent of drivers involved in fatal accidents aged 65 to 74 had BAC levels over .08.
Looking at the types of vehicles driven in fatal DUI crashes, 23 percent of the drivers of passenger cars had a BAC over .08, as did 22 percent of the drivers of light trucks. Motorcycle drivers were the most likely to be over the limit -- 28 percent -- in fatal DUI crashes, while only 2 percent of heavy truck drivers involved in fatal DUI accidents had a BAC level that was over .08.
Finally, the study also determined that up to 70 percent of all drunk driving fatalities in 2010 involved drivers whose BAC was almost twice the legal limit.
Drivers should take note that from now through Labor Day weekend, law enforcement officials here in West Virginia and across the U.S. will be hitting the roads in greater numbers to catch drunk drivers as part of the NHTSA's annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.
Stay tuned for more from our Morgantown, West Virginia personal injury/wrongful death blog ...
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident or fatal drunk driving accident, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced attorney who can answer your questions and explain your rights.
This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Sources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Traffic safety facts 2010: Alcohol impaired driving," April 2012
The Trucker, "Three percent of fatal truck accidents in 2010 involved alcohol," Aug. 14, 2012
kelly clarkson playoffs empty nest nbc sports bengals vs texans nfl playoffs cincinnati bengals
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.