Alcohol-related car accidents cause more than 10,000 fatalities each year. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an impaired driver may get behind the wheel 80 times before getting arrested. Two-thirds of those who are arrested have never been convicted before, but one-third are repeat offenders.
Law enforcement officials are concerned about the number of people who are convicted of driving under the influence, and yet end up out on the roads again. For example, in Riverside, Illinois, a man was recently arrested for the fourth time. His driver’s license had been revoked for prior DUIs, but that did not prevent him from driving. Lawmakers are working to create penalties that will deter first time offenders and eliminate repeat offenses.
Any amount of alcohol affects brain function
The Illinois State Police’s Influenced Driving webpage states that one drink is equal to one ounce of 86 proof liquor, three ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer. These examples of one drink contain 1.2 tablespoons of ethanol alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Anything over .05 blood alcohol content is considered impaired, and .08 or more is presumed under the influence.
Although the body weight and metabolism of every person is different and will process the drink differently, even one drink is enough to affect the physical and mental abilities while driving. The chemicals that carry messages throughout the brain are blocked, reducing reaction time and the ability to control impulses and make good decisions. Eye focus and depth perception are also affected negatively.
Current laws do not keep drunk drivers off the road
The first time an individual is convicted of drunk driving, it is considered a misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of up to one year in jail, fines up to $2,500, court costs over $1,000 and a temporarily suspended license. The first DUI also causes limited driving privileges. These limits include the installation of a breath alcohol ignition interlock device system in the vehicle. The driver must blow into the device before starting the car, and if the blood alcohol content is above a pre-set limit, the vehicle will not start.
Law enforcement officials in Illinois say that the Breathalyzer devices on cars are less effective than they should be. Offenders simply borrow, buy or rent a different vehicle. In Riverside, 64 DUI arrests in 2013 were offenders who had multiple convictions and whose licenses had been revoked. Victims of drunk drivers should call an Illinois personal injury attorney who is able to get full compensation for all damages incurred.
