Apex DUI Lawyer comments on DUI satistics

This Apex DUI lawyer recently discussed the increase number of DUI arrests among women.  I speculated in that thread that the increase in DUI arrests among women was likely due to the increase in the number of lawsuits against police departments and local municipalities when they stop a drunk driver, fail to make an arrest, and the motorist subsequently causes an accident.

A recent study by the Automobile Club of Southern California suggests otherwise. According to that study, the number of women killed in alcohol related car accidents in California has increased dramatically over the past decade. The study revealed that the number of women drivers aged 21-24 who are involved in alcohol related accidents has risen approximately 116% between 1998 and 2007. The Automobile Club study then compared this figure to male crash statistics, which indicated an increase over the same period of only 39%. These findings have indicated to researchers that the female drinking pattern has been radically altered over the past ten years.

According to Steven A. Bloch, a safety researcher with the Automobile Club, “the analysis shows that young women are rapidly catching up with men in terms of risk-taking behavior and incurring the consequences of risk-taking, such as alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes. Reasons for this include the increase in the number of women obtaining drivers’ licenses, women driving more miles and driving more aggressively like their male counterparts.”

Bloch added, “These numbers suggest a significant change in our driving culture overall. Despite the $13,500 to $15,000 in fines, fees, and penalties associated with a DUI conviction and the threat of death or injury, young women in particular are increasingly driving in a more risky fashion.”  Regardless of the large discrepancy in percent increase between male and female age groups, more generally, these statistics indicate a large increase in the number of alcohol related accidents and fatalities over the past decade.

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As always, if you or a loved one has been charged with DUI in North Carolina, contact an experienced Apex DUI Lawyer.