- Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug in America
- According to NHTSA there were 42,800 traffic deaths in 2004 of which 39% or 16,654 were alcohol-related.
- One person dies every half hour in America at the hands of impaired/intoxicated drivers.
- The highest prevalence of both binge and heavy drinking in 2000 was for young adults aged 18 to 25.
- Alcohol use is closely linked with violence. About 40% of all crimes (violent & non-violent) are committed under the influence of alcohol.
- Drivers age 21-29 drive the greatest proportion of their miles drunk. (Miller et al., 1996c)
- Lowering the legal level for DWI to .08 will save an estimated 500 lives a year
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- Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age from six through 33. Almost half of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes.
- Between 1988 and 1998, the proportion of drivers 16-20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes and were intoxicated dropped 33% from 21% in 1988 to 14% in 1990, the largest decrease of any age group during this time period.
- Men are four times more likely than women to drive after drinking. (Miller et al., 1996c)
- Minimum Drinking Age Laws reduce traffic fatalities involving drivers 18 to 20 years old by 13%. These laws have saved an estimated 18,220 lives since 1975.
- In 2003 there were 1,491 traffic fatalities in New York State of which 35% or 259 were alcohol related.
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