According to the state’s recent statistics, the number of drunk driving car accident in Illinois has seen a significant reduction in previous years. From 2007 to 2010, the number of people arrested for drunk driving decreased by nearly 20 percent, and the number of fatalities caused by these types of accidents fell nearly 35 percent, according to the Chicago Tribune.Some believe the decrease is a result of societal shifts; others say it’s because of tougher DUI laws and the enforcement for these laws. Still, some think the decrease is the result of the economic downturn.
Our Chicago drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that the tougher penalties for drunk-driving charges contributed to the decrease in these types of arrests in the 1980s and the 1990s, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). In 1997, Illinois lowered its legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.10 to 0.08. Still, with the holidays here, we can expect to see a significant increase in the number of these accidents. The National Safety Council (NSC) is predicting roughly 600 deaths from car accidents over the New Year’s and Christmas holiday periods.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the number of drivers who admit to driving while intoxicated has decreased by about 30 percent from 2006 to 2010.
Kane County has previously enacted a “no refusal” policy to help bust drunk drivers. This policy allows arresting officers to get court orders on the spot to draw blood from drivers who are suspected of drunk driving and refuse to submit a breath test.
Ever since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its new traffic accident statistics, the country was awarded for lower numbers of drunk driving-related fatalities for the year. According to these nationwide statistics, the number of drunk driving-related fatalities dropped by nearly 5 percent from 2009 with nearly 11,000 fatalities to less than 10,300 in 2010.
“More than 3,200 fewer people were killed last year than in the previous four years,” said Jan Withers, MADD president. “That’s 3,200 families who did not receive that terrible, life-changing call or visit from law enforcement letting them know their loved one wasn’t coming home again.”
MADD continues to reiterate the fact that drunk-driving accidents are 100 percent preventable. As the holiday season is in full swing, drivers are asked to not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. There are a number of options available for a person who has been drinking. They can call a family member or a friend to come pick them up, they can designate a sober driver for the night to take the intoxicated individuals home, they can use With a conscious effort, we can all do our part to continue this decreasing trend in the number of unnecessary fatalities caused by drunk driving.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident with an intoxicated driver, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
Additional Resources:
DUIs take a big drop in Illinois, by Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune
More Blog Entries:
State Receives Recognition for Combating Drunk Driving Accidents in Illinois, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 21, 2011
Local Celebs Participate in Demonstration to Raise Awareness of Drunk Driving Accidents in Illinois, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, September 13, 2011