December 2024

Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes. That's one person every 39 minutes (NHTSA, 2022). Additionally, the CDC reports that impaired driving contributes to approximately 28% of all traffic-related deaths annually in the U.S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). These aren’t just numbers, they represent lives cut short and families forever changed. Moreover, these deaths could have been prevented. If you’re drinking, call a ride, an Uber, or have a designated driver.

In 2022, there were 2,337 deaths in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of just .01 to .07 g/dL. (NHTSA, 2022).
This shows that even a little bit of alcohol can mess with your ability to drive safely. While many associate impaired driving with alcohol, drug-related impairment is also a growing concern. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 2020), marijuana, prescription medications, and over-the-counter drugs can affect reaction time, judgment, and motor coordination. If you mix these substances with alcohol, the effects can be amplified.

Even if you do not crash, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal. Consequences include expensive fines and jail time (NHTSA, 2022). So why even take the risk? The CDC emphasizes that even small actions, like offering someone a ride or taking their keys, can save lives (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).

Stay safe, and let’s enjoy the holidays responsibly!

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). WISQARS — Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2022.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Facts 2020 Data: Alcohol-Impaired Driving (Report No DOT HS 813 294). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis; April 2022.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, May 27). Drugged driving Drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/drugged-driving#:~:text=The%20effects%20of%20specific%20drugs,aggressive%20and%20reckless%20when%20driving.