Law enforcement officers can only know which drivers’ blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit if they adequately complete roadside tests. However, are there some commonalities they might consider?
What do the numbers show?
Anyone could face drunk driving charges, so there’s really no way for police to anticipate which drivers they should pull over. That said, statistics suggest that:
- Individuals between the ages of 21 and 24 are accountable for the majority of alcohol-related crashes
- Almost half of drivers think they’re okay to drive, even when they’ve had too much to drink
- More than 30% of the reported drunk driving fatalities in Louisiana involve alcohol
Clearly, getting in the driver’s seat after consuming alcohol poses the potential to cause harm to yourself and others on the road. Additional serious consequences can also result from criminal charges.
Lost driving privileges – at least for a time – often follow a DWI arrest. Once you get your license back, you can expect to see a significant rise in auto insurance rates.
Additional financial penalties could compound from fines and probable job loss during incarceration.
Drunk driving: a declining trend
Nationwide, there’s been a 50% decrease in alcohol-related fatalities over the past 40 years. Ridesharing has likely helped reduce the number of drunk driving deaths, combined with educational efforts from organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
No matter how responsible you are when you drink, you never know when you might face legal accusations. Knowing how to protect your interests is integral.
