Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Authorities in Illinois and across the country will be out in force to prevent fatal drunk driving accidents over the New Year’s holiday.
Each year in Illinois, an average of more than 50,000 people are arrested for drunk driving and 3 in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol related traffic crash in their lifetime, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
As the Chicago car accident lawyers and Illinois accident attorneys at Abels & Annes reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois is the eighth-deadliest for fatal drunk driving accidents.
Last year in Illinois, 1,043 people killed in traffic accidents; one in three (362) were legally drunk and one in four (252) had a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15) or higher.
-Each year, about 310,000 people suffer injuries in alcohol-related traffic crashes nationwide, an average of one person injured every 2 minutes.
-Fatal drunk driving accidents in Illinois are three times more likely to occur at night than during the day.
– Teenagers and young adults are at increased risk of an Illinois drunk driving accident. Although 16-24 year olds comprise only 15.52 percent of the licensed drivers in the state, they are involved in 38.85 percent of all fatal alcohol-related crashes.
-Nearly one-third of fatally injured teenage drivers (age 16-19) were drinking prior to their crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pushing a nationwide crackdown aimed at drunk drivers through the New Year’s holiday.
Authorities in Illinois will also be conducting sobriety checkpoints through the state, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is encouraging motorists to drink responsibly through its Tie One on for Safety and Designate a Safe Ride Home campaigns.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury 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.