Each year approximately 10,000 people die on the road due to drunk driving, the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing a year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. In order to stop this deadly epidemic, law enforcement in every state and most U.S. cities will be cracking down on drunk driving from December 12th through January 1st in a campaign called, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
NHTSA studies reveal that three quarters of the drunk driving incidents occur at night. In fact, drunk driving was the cause for a quarter of the driving fatalities between the hours of midnight to 3 a.m. in 2012. This averages to 1 drunk driving fatality every 51 minutes, or 27 people a day.
The penalties for drunk driving in Illinois can vary depending on whether it is your first offense or if you are a repeat offender. Drivers on their third DUI, may be looking at 3 to 7 years in jail, fines in the thousands and possibly losing their license for up to 10 years. If you are involved in an accident while drunk, your troubles multiply, particularly if someone is injured or killed.
This holiday season, take care when you are out on the roads. Watch out for drivers exhibiting signs of being impaired – swerving, driving too slow, tailgating, fast acceleration or abrupt stopping to name a handful. If you spot a suspected drunk driver, contact the police. If you are attending holiday events, drink responsibly or have a plan to get home to avoid driving, such as a designated driver or a taxi.
If you or a loved one have been arrested for driving under the influence in Illinois, contact the Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell, LLC. for help. Ron has earned 2014’s “10 Best Client Satisfaction Award for DUI Attorney” in Illinois, underscoring his expertise in DUI/OWI law.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.gov, accessed December 19, 2014.