Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that even without any alcohol, teenagers 15 to 20 years of age are more likely to die in a vehicular accident compared to everyone else. With alcohol, the risk of being involved in an accident is even greater. In fact, studies show that 12.8 percent of all traffic crashes resulting in fatalities were related to alcohol, and that 40 percent of that number involved teenagers driving while impaired.
Motorcyclists
Among all motorcyclists who died in fatal crashes in 2012, 29 percent of them had blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.08 percent or higher. Every year, almost half of the alcohol-impaired motorcyclists killed are at least 40 years old. Motorcyclists with the highest percentage of fatalities with BAC of .08 percent or greater are those 40 to 44 years old at 44 percent.
Drivers with prior DWI convictions
Studies also showed that drivers involved in fatal crashes with a BAC of at least .08 percent were seven times more prone to having a prior DWI conviction compared to drivers with no alcohol in their system. Between one-third and three-fourths of drivers arrested for DWI have previously been charged for the offense. Unfortunately, one-half to one-third of those arrested for DWI will likely be charged again in the future for the same offense. The risk of a driver being involved in a fatal crash is 1.4 times greater for drivers who have had one or more DWI convictions compared to drivers who have never been charged with a DWI.
As an experienced Minnesota DWI defense attorney we can help, contact us today for a free case review!
Source: Injury Protection & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, published on http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Impaired_Driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html.