There are 29 fatal car accidents involving drunk drivers per day in the US.
In the US, more than 55% of those involved in catastrophic or fatal road accidents had drug or alcohol tests that were positive. One of the main factors contributing to fatal collisions in the US is drunk driving. Alcohol and drugs can make it harder for a person to react quickly, think and drive. According to the US CDC, 29 people pass die in car accidents every day in the US that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. And it is unknown how many more individuals perish in accidents involving drivers.
According to the study, one in four major or fatal accidents had a driver who tested positive for marijuana of some kind, and another one in four involved a driver who had alcohol in their system. A total of 11% of individuals tested positive for stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, while 9% of them tested positive for opioids. Two or more substances were found in someone’s system in 32% of fatal incidents and 18% of those resulting in serious injuries.
This is consistent with earlier study, which showed that combining the use of two drugs can result in more severe injuries and fatal car accidents than using just one of them, especially for young drivers. It’s crucial to remember that just because a chemical is in someone’s system doesn’t imply they are automatically affected.
Research:
The authors of the new study aimed to increase our understanding of road safety. In addition to drivers, their study examined data on passengers, cyclists, electric scooter users, and pedestrians who were involved in accidents. It was released by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The team examined data from Level 1 trauma centres in Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Baltimore; Worcester, Massachusetts; Iowa City, Iowa; and Sacramento, California from September 2019 to July 2021.
Amy Berning, a research psychologist, said the researchers selected trauma centres that represented areas with a broad patient pool from both urban and rural areas. So the results may not be generalizable to the entire country.
According to a national poll, more than 40% of those who use alcohol or cannabis admit to driving while impaired. Accidents involving drunk drivers are especially terrible because they can be avoided. Driving when intoxicated by alcohol or other substances is not justifiable and should not be done.
According to Ann Carlson of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is prohibited to drive while intoxicated in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This applies to alcohol or another narcotic that is legal or illegal.
According to Carlson, drunk driving causes more than 10,000 fatalities annually in the US. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Alex Otte, these statistics had been declining for a while.
But after the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been gradually increasing again.
Take away:
Making a plan is essential, especially when so many people are celebrating the holidays. Use public transit or a ride-sharing service, or ask a sober friend to serve as your designated driver.
We urge folks to have pleasure in the season and spend time with their loved ones adter a difficult few years. But make sure to do it in a way that allows us all to return home at night.
Parvathy Sukumaran 
