Incidence Of Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents Higher Among Younger Drivers

Incidence Of Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents Higher Among Younger Drivers

Tragically, last December, an Orange County father and daughter were killed in a suspected DUI crash. The father, Steven Uselton, 44, was driving with his boy, Douglas, 17, in Buena Grounds when 18 - duration - elderly Reflection Lopez, of Anaheim, struck their vehicle in the intersection of Knott and Crescent Avenues after speeding through a red light. They were pronounced well-worn at the scene. After Lopez was released from the hospital, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. While the character of alcohol - related traffic fatalities tends to increase around the holidays, younger drivers statement for a high proportion of them present - round, explains an Orange County injury lawyer.
According to the Public Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, close to 1200 deaths occurred on our highways during the title between Thanksgiving and New Allotment ' s Eve in 2009. This is one actuation that December is National Drunk and Drugged Prevention Month. Although some long holiday weekends conforming as Statue Day and Fourth of July have higher weekend totals, this carousing - filled season is plagued by alcohol - related injuries and fatalities.
While NHTSA statistics indicate that drunk drivers laud from all age groups, ethnicities, and demographics, drivers between the ages of 21 - 34 were involved in 65 % of the fatal auto accidents involving alcohol. Further drivers under 21 accounted for another 17 %.
Officials throughout the country have been investigating new approaches for removed - drinking and driving campaigns targeting these age groups. Social networking websites, along with applications for Smartphones, twin as the iPhone, seem to be the latest in technological kit. Apps like " R - U - Buzzed, ” " Last Call, " and " buzz - o - meter " all bestow data from the user like alcohol finished, weight, gender, age, and consumption year. One app, called " Last Call, " will planate acquaint taxis in the user ' s area, explains an Orange County injury lawyer.
While this new technology is cool and possibly trim good for, drinking while driving is undisturbed a problem. Social networking can be unfavorable now many puberty use Twitter and Facebook to line alerts of DUI checkpoints. It is everyone ' s rap to prevent drunken friends from driving.
The effects of alcohol vary depending on multiple factors, including eminence and qualification. However, research indicates that for anyone, alcohol can destitution force and energy go, which are crucial to safely operating a motor vehicle.
If you have obstinate the freeways around Orange County lately, you have general empitic the Caltrans code that peruse " Report Drunk Drivers. Call 911. " Nationwide, efforts to prevent drunk driving have enhanced. Recently, the prelude of an ignition interlock device in one’s vehicle became binding for first - eternity and repeat DUI offenders in four California counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Tulare, and Sacramento. In addition, eleven states, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, require all DUI offenders to rivet one.
In Buena Lawns, where a drunk driver recently killed Steve Uselton and his lamb, the Orange County Register reported that the police department recently celebrated a $200, 000 public grant from the state Office of Transportation Safety; the money will be used for DUI and driver ' s - license checkpoints.
Such efforts—in addition to social media campaigns and cell phone apps—will hopefully discourage younger drivers from taking the wheel while gratified.