Does Florida Have More Drunk Drivers Than Other States?
Drunk driving is dangerous all year round, but especially so during the holidays. When you consider a whole year’s worth of data, then about one of out every three fatal traffic collisions involves alcohol. If you only count the accidents that happen during the holiday season, that is, from Thanksgiving weekend until New Year’s, then alcohol is a factor in 40 percent of fatal accidents. Fatal accidents are only the worst-case scenario as far as consequences of drunk driving, and whenever possible, Florida courts suspend people’s driver’s licenses when the drivers get caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent. In order to get your license back, you must jump through a lot of hoops to show that you can be trusted not to drive drunk again. If you got your driver’s license suspended because of a DUI, a West Palm Beach license reinstatement lawyer can help you get it back, possibly in time for this holiday season.
Florida Drunk Driving Statistics
Every year, Forbes Advisor publishes a report that ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia according to their rates of DUI. It assigns each state a score from zero to 100, based on the number of DUI arrests, alcohol-related traffic fatalities, and underage drunk drivers relative to the total population and the total number of licensed drivers. In other words, it adjusts the numbers for the state’s population, so that Florida does not appear to have one of the highest totals of DUI incidents simply because it has a large population.
In fact, Florida’s DUI rate falls squarely in the middle; the Sunshine State ranks 31st out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Florida, alcohol played a role in 26 percent of the fatal collisions in 2020. In that same year, approximately three out of every 200 drivers got arrested for DUI at least once. In 2020, as in previous years, most of the states with the highest DUI rates, including eight states in the top ten, are west of the Mississippi River. Sparsely populated Montana and Wyoming hold first and second place. DUI is least common along the eastern seaboard. The lowest DUI rates are in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey.
What Does This Mean for Your DUI Case?
DUI traffic stops are especially common during the holiday season. If you get pulled over for DUI but you have not caused an accident, be reassured that you have avoided the worst-case scenario. There is plenty of room for a DUI defense lawyer to help you avoid jail time and to get your driver’s license back as quickly as possible. If it is your first DUI, you might be eligible for a pretrial diversion program.
Contact a West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Attorney William Wallshein has more than 38 years of experience, including five years as a prosecutor in Palm Beach County. Contact William Wallshein P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida to discuss your case.
Source:
forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/worst-states-for-drunk-driving/
