Negligent Driving

Drunk Driving

“We have proved the point that drowsy-driving can kill. In fact, someone who is the nominated driver at the office party and resolutely avoids alcohol all night is still likely to be in no state to drive when the time comes to drive their friends and colleagues home.”

Jo Whitbourn, Britannia Rescue

Drunk driving fatalities have plummeted over the last 20 years, and in 2005 alcohol contributed to only 7% of traffic accidents. However, most Americans believe that the threat of drunk driving has remained static or even increased during that time.

Due to the success of campaigns aimed at drunk driving, offenders are now rarely casual social drinkers, but hardcore alcoholics. In fact, national statistics indicated that a blood alcohol content of 0.19 (more than twice the legal limit) is the average level among drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes. But even though most Americans drink responsibly, they endanger lives through other—seemingly benign—activities.

With the driving public still fixated on a singular problem, motorists tend to ignore or trivialize larger threats to traffic safety.

“The dangers from distracted driving are such that it takes our concentration away to the point that we are impaired as if we are drunk.”

Robert Sinclair Jr., AAA

Other Threats Compared to Drunk Driving:

Driving while using a mobile phone affects performance (speed control, following distance, and reaction times) significantly more than driving above the legal BAC level.
Drivers reacted 30% more slowly and missed more road signs when talking on a hand-held mobile phone than while drunk.
Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Distracted driving is a much greater threat than drunk driving for American teens.

“If drivers realized that by driving while tired they are just as impaired as if they were driving well over the legal drink-drive alcohol limit, then they might take the risks seriously.”