Drunk driving statistics?

What websites have you considered. What do you think makes a source of information reliable?

Well, I’m not sure. I want actual statistics, not guesses, basically. I thought about MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), which should be pretty factual, right?

This might help: http://www.centurycouncil.org/fight-drunk-driving/hardcoredrunkdriving/sourcebook

Edit: This too.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes drunk driving statistics though the most recent ones they have are from 2008 and general data from 2009

I would go with a source with the closest access to the data and the least motivation to misrepresent the facts. The HTSA cited above would be a good source as I see it.

Great question, I was wondering the same, but just how many accidents now are caused by inattentive drivers. It’s interesting, because you have the insurance industry toe to toe with the telecommunications industry. It should be a good fight to watch. My bet is the telecommunication lobby will win over most state governments.
I am more concerned driving now in all in my driving history with inattentive drivers. Three or four times, I was scared of a drunk driver. But inattentive drivers seem to be everywhere which is equally frightening to me.

“Statlistics” is pretty broad. What information are you looking for, as I’m sure you have a reason for asking the question…like, do you wonder how may people receive citations for drunk driving, or is it more about the people who didn’t receive the citation, but killed someone?

I’m looking to find out how many people are killed by drunk drivers, how many of those drivers were first offenders, etc. I’m gathering information for an essay, which is why I need a reliable source.

In your research, don’t confuse alcohol-related traffic fatalities with fatalities associated with drunken drivers. They’re not the same. For example, if an intoxicated driver is stopped at a red light and is rear-ended by an attentive sober driver, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would categorize it as an alcohol-related crash. However, MADD falsely reports alcohol-related fatalities as fatalities CAUSED by drunk drivers.

@ItsAHabit Though, if a sober drive rear ends someone stopped at red light, they apparently weren’t so attentive after all.

Right you are, lillycoyote. I meant to write “inattentive” driver. :-)

@ItsAHabit Yeah, I thought something wasn’t quite right because your comment didn’t quite make sense. But I had to razz you about it. Anyway, for me the bottom line is, everything aside, statistics, massaging statistics, how you feel about MADD, SADD, etc. aside, the bottom line for me is that we would all be better off, the people we love and the people who love us would be better off if everyone who took on the responsibility of maneuvering 2000 pounds of steel, rubber, fiberglass and gasoline through space at speeds between say 3 mph to in excess of 75 mph took that responsibility seriously. About 40,000 people are killed on our highways every year (link). That’s a pretty significant amount of annual carnage. That’s about thirteen 9/11’s a year. It’s over ⅔’s of a Vietnam (U.S. dead) a year. And we do it to each other. And those numbers don’t include the millions of people maimed, injured, who suffer property damage and are inconvenienced by traffic accidents every year. We all need to do better. To pay attention, not drive impaired, take our responsibilities more seriously.

There are two categories of drunken drivers. One consists of “regular people” who make a poor choice. They may not realize the degree of their impairment, they may think they’ll be safe because they only have to drive half a mile, etc. When arrested for DWI, such people usually are embarrassed and never offend again. However, chronic repeat offenders are virtually always alcoholics. They stop offending wen their basic problem of addiction is addressed. An effective way to do so is by means of DWI courts.
The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA) is promoting DWI courts as a major way to reduce impaired driving. He stresses that most Americans make the right choices about drinking and driving. For example, choosing to have one drink instead of six on their way home from work. He says DWI courts are most useful for those who are unable to make wise choices because of their addiction.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/1083352479.html