Too many motorists drive drunk despite laws in most states that set blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.08. Last year over 10,000 people were killed in traffic accidents involving at least one driver under the influence of alcohol, many of whom were repeat drunk driving offenders.
A third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are in fact repeat offenders. One out of 8 alcohol impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes have had a prior DUI. Not all that surprisingly, those with prior drunk driving convictions also have a greater relative risk of fatal crash involvement. Unfortunately, an earlier scrape with the law resulting in a conviction for DWI DUI does not deter many persons from getting behind the wheel and doing it again.
Traffic safety experts now believe that focusing law enforcement efforts on identifying high risk impaired drivers who are likely to offend again and getting them help is the key to reduce drunk driving accidents and saving lives. Referring high risk drivers to substance or mental health treatment may stem repeat drunk driving that can result in drunk driving deaths, which account for roughly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities.
It is tragic when someone is hurt at the hands of a drunk or impaired driver, even more so when the driver is a repeat offender. If your loved one is hurt in a car accident due to the impairment of another driver, contact the Des Moines car accident personal injury lawyers at Stoltze & Stoltze PLC for immediate assistance at515.989.8529.
