Drugged Driving On the Rise

The effects of car crashes go beyond those who were immediately involved.  A study conducted by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration says that the cost of crashes nearly $900 for every person in the United States.

This is merely the economic costs.  Add to that a number approximately twice that for the pain and suffering caused by those crashes.  “…today’s report clearly demonstrates that investments in safety are worth every penny used to reduce the frequency and severity of these tragic events,” says US Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Researchers scoured the crash data from 2010 to create the study, The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.   There were nearly 33,000 fatalities, 2.9 million non-fatal injuries, and 24 million damaged vehicles in 2010.

The top three reasons for crashes are drunk driving, speeding, and distraction.

Key findings (Quoted directly from http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2014/NHTSA-study-shows-vehicle-crashes-have-$871-billion-impact-on-U.S.-economy,-society)

• Drunk Driving: Crashes caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol accounted for 18 percent of the total economic loss due to motor vehicle crashes and cost the nation $49 billion, an average cost of $158 for every person in the U.S. Including lost quality of life, these crashes were responsible for $199 billion or 23 percent of the overall societal harm caused by motor vehicle crashes. Over 90 percent of these costs occurred in crashes involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

 

• Speeding: Crashes involving a speeding vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit or too fast for conditions accounted for 21 percent of the total economic loss and cost the nation $59 billion in 2010, an average cost of $191 for every person in the U.S. Including lost quality of life, these crashes were responsible for $210 billion or 24 percent of the overall societal harm caused by motor vehicle crashes.

 

• Distraction: Crashes involving a distracted driver accounted for 17 percent of the total economic loss and cost the nation $46 billion in 2010, an average cost of $148 for every person in the U.S. Including lost quality of life, these crashes were responsible for $129 billion or 15 percent of the overall societal harm caused by motor vehicle crashes.

 

As an attorney, Steven Kellis sees the effects of crashes every single day.   Our offices can handle complex cases involving DUI and DWI for our clients and will provide you with our best representation if you have received a ticket for DWI or DUI.  Give us a call.