Study: 4.2 Million Admitted To Driving While Intoxicated

A study released in August by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that close to 2% of adults admitted to driving while intoxicated at least once in the last 30 days. The study was led by CDC investigator Amy Jewett. CDC researchers looked at the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. From that, they found that “an estimated 4.2 million adults reported at least one alcohol-impaired driving episode in the last 30 days, resulting in an estimated 121 million episodes and a national rate of 505 episodes per 1,000 annually.”

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Findings from the driving while impaired study
Here are some of the findings from the study:

• Men accounted for 80% of episodes, with young men aged 21 to 34 accounting for 32% of all episodes.
• Eighty-five percent of alcohol-impaired driving episodes were reported by people who were also reported as binge drinkers.
• Adults who reported binge drinking at least four times per month accounted for 61% of all alcohol-impaired driving episodes.

Binge drinking in Kentucky
The study defines binge drinking as women drinking four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion and men drinking five or more alcoholic beverages per occasion. In Kentucky, binge drinking increased by about 67% between 2005 and 2012. In Jefferson County, binge drinking increased by 55%.

It was revealed in a 2012 CDC report that Kentucky led the nation in binge drinking, showing that 12% of its population indulged in binge drinking. In 2009, nearly one in four Kentucky high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. This puts them at risk for alcohol poisoning and potentially fatal consequences.

Related: Getting A Ride Home After Drinking Can Save Lives

As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I know having an alcoholic beverage on occasion is fine, but we should be careful and conscious of our alcohol consumption. When you indulge in too much alcohol, you are increasing your chances for serious bodily harm such as car crashes, injuries and alcohol poisoning. This is why I would like to encourage Kentucky motorists to not binge drink and help others to do the same. Know your limits! If you have trouble judging how much is too much, make plans to get a ride home from the event before you leave for the event. You could also call a taxi or Uber to give you a ride home. Try to consume no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. Prevent binge drinking and you can save lives.

For more information contact the Louisville personal injury lawyers at The Shafer Law Office today!

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