[Infographic] Virginia’s Most Shocking DUI Statistics
Virginia is known for having tough laws against drunk driving and has made efforts to reduce the rates of drunk driving and alcohol-involved crashes. Despite everything that is done to discourage drivers from drinking and driving, drivers continue to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
The infographic below highlights several of the most shocking statistics related to drunk driving in Virginia.
Virginia DUI Statistics
1.4% of Virginians have reported that they drove while drunk in the past 30 days. Not only is driving a vehicle while impaired a serious crime, it puts your life and the lives of others in danger.
Drunk Driving in Virginia
Alcohol-related crashes account for about 30% of all traffic fatalities in the state of Virginia. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that from 2003-2012, 2,613 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Virginia. Although driving becomes illegal when a person is impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or greater—or .04 percent for commercial drivers—any level of impairment can be very dangerous.
Alcohol-Related Incident Statistics
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reported that in 2016, there were 7,482 alcohol-related crashes in Virginia. 252 of these crashes were fatal, 3,325 of these crashes resulted in injuries, and 3,905 of these crashes resulted in property damage. The majority of people who were involved in an alcohol-related crash in 2016 were between the ages of 21 and 35. 365 teenagers, aged 15-19, were injured in alcohol-related crashes and 8 teenagers, aged 15-19, were killed in alcohol-related crashes. Additionally, males were about four times more likely than females to die in an alcohol-related crash.
There were 19,925 people convicted of a DUI in Virginia in 2016. These people had an average BAC of 0.1452, which is well above the legal limit of 0.08. Of those convicted of a DUI, almost 70 percent were male.
What to do Following a Drunk Driving Incident
Drunk driving is a serious problem in Virginia and across the United States. Not all alcohol-related incidents lead to an arrest or a crash, but no one should take the risk of getting behind the wheel after drinking too much.
Virginia law punishes drunk driving harshly. If you need help defending yourself against drunk driving charges, contact experienced Virginia DUI lawyer, Andrew Flusche today.
