Because they are responsible individuals, many people think it is OK to drink and drive. Getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol may have disastrous repercussions for others around you as well as yourself. Drunken driving may endanger not only your safety but also the safety of others, resulting in minor to severe injuries, fines, prison time, or death. Too many individuals fall prey to the illusion of immunity, believing that it would never happen to them. Even if you've never been in an accident because of drunken driving, you are still accountable for the lives of others when you drink and drive.

What is drunken driving? DUI versus DWI

DUI stands for "driving under the influence." DWI stands for "driving while impaired" or "driving while intoxicated" in certain areas. The terms may have various meanings or refer to the same crime depending on the state.

When a motorist is charged with DUI or DWI, it implies they've broken the law and placed themselves and others in danger. This legislation regulates alcohol and other drugs that impair your ability to drive (including those prescribed by a physician and illegal substances). Both may have a significant effect on your life, but none is worse than the other.

The current national blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level in the United States is 0.08. It results from over 30 years of scientific study. The nation has come a long way since the 0.15 BAC level was first commonly used in 1938.

The study of how alcohol affects a person's driving skills has evolved throughout time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly all drivers are drunk when their blood alcohol content is 0.08 or above, notwithstanding their apparent distinctions.

Even experienced drivers are impacted by a blood alcohol content of 0.08 on essential driving tasks such as braking, steering, lane change, judgment, and divided attention.

Statistics on the number of people killed because of drunken driving

The data on drunken driving fatalities emphasize how unsafe this practice is. Drunken driving is responsible for 28% of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States. Over 230 children were killed in drunk-driving accidents the year before last.

In the United States, about 28 people are killed every day in drunk-driving incidents. According to the NHTSA, it means one person dies every 52 minutes.

In 2019, there were 10,142 alcohol-impaired driving deaths. For every year between 2010 and 2019, over 10,000 people died because of drunken driving. Drunken driving is still one of the top causes of preventable deaths in the United States.

Rehab for alcoholism may assist you in staying alive and out of trouble

It's tough to recover from mild, moderate, or severe alcohol use disorder. There are a variety of therapy alternatives to choose from. Going to a residential alcohol treatment center is one of the first steps you can take to learn how to live without alcohol and gain the tools and abilities you'll need to remain clean. An alcohol rehab program may provide various services customized to your specific needs, such as behavioral therapy, alcoholism education, and support group involvement.

Reaching out for support when things are difficult requires bravery and strength, but once you take that first step toward sober living, everything else will fall into place more effortlessly than ever before.

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