Reported Drunk Driving Numbers Skyrocketed in 2021

December 6, 2022
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December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month and so there is no better time then now to take stock in how we are doing with prevention of this type of behavior.  Unfortunately, the answer is, not very good.  Drunk driving is one of the biggest factors in many New Haven auto accidents and the truth is that throughout the United States in 2021 it was a factor in many incidents as well.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is reporting that there was a 24% increase in the number of people who admitted to driving while drunk.  This was self reported data as part of the organization’s annual report on the Traffic Safety Culture Index.  The report also showed an increase in other dangerous driving behaviors which are important to mention like driving while under the influence of marijuana which increased by almost 14%, drowsy driving was up nearly 9% and driving while distracted from your cellphone was up nearly 7%.  These dangerous behaviors behind the wheel are of concern to safety experts and they should be a concern to all of us who are sharing the road.

With this reported increase in drunk driving, what can you do to keep yourself safe?  The first thing is to make sure you are not driving while under the influence of alcohol.  If you are planning on heading out and consuming any drinks you should designate a driver or hire a ride share service like Uber to get you to and from your destination.  Consume a responsible amount of alcohol and get home safely without having to worry about how you’re getting home.  This is the best thing you can do to contribute to reducing the numbers reported by AAA.

What can you do even if you are not consuming alcohol to keep yourself and your loved ones safe on Connecticut’s roads?  There are a few ways you can limit the possibility that you will have of interacting with those who are getting behind the wheel of a car while being intoxicated.

1.) Get home earlier.  A good percentage of drunk driving incidents happen later at night.  The more people you are sharing the road with who have been drinking the greater your chance of coming into contact with those people is.  Therefore, if you can plan your evening to get home no later then 10pm you will greatly reduce your risk of being involved in an accident with someone who is under the influence.

2.) Avoid vehicles who are demonstrating erratic behavior.  If you are traveling on the road and are approaching a vehicle that appears to be swerving (even a little bit) and is having trouble staying in the lanes you will want to do everything you can to avoid coming in contact with that vehicle.  You can slow down and wait for the vehicle to pass or carefully pull ahead so you can get into a situation where you are in control of what is in front of you.  Either way, avoiding any interactions with that vehicle will keep you as safe as possible.

3.) Report bad driver behavior to the police.  If you see someone pulling out of a bar or restaurant in an unusual way or driving erratically while sharing the road with you you may want to report them to the police.  Getting the license number of the vehicle is imperative before you call, but it can help get someone off of the roads who is a danger to you and other drivers.

The increase in the number of drunk driving reported in the AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index is an unsettling thing for safety experts and should concern all of us.  When you’re out celebrating this holiday season you should take steps to protect yourself from a New Haven auto accident whether you’re drinking or not.

Our firm is experienced with these types of situations and can help you if you do get into any sort of accident and are injured.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will reach out to speak with you about your situation.