“Every day, 28 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 51 minutes,” ("Impaired Driving: Get the Facts | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center"). Drunk driving is the act of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Drunk driving takes over 10,000 lives annually. It is an exceedingly serious and perilous issue that we face here in the United States, and it should not be taken lightly by the government or the public.
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Drunk driving has been a serious issue in the United States ever since the 1900’s. Driving during or after drinking alcohol is not only threatening for the driver themselves, but also threatening to the people around them. ”In 1980,
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In the United States, it is illegal for someone to be operating a motor vehicle with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content/Concentration) of 0.08 or above that. If one was to get pulled over or caught, they can be faced with a DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), or OUI (operating under the influence), all of which can lead to some major troubles. There are various actions that can take place following getting caught. “About half of the states have mandatory jail time for a first DUI conviction. These mandatory sentences are typically between one day and a week,” (McCurley). Once you get that first DUI or DWI, that stays on your record, you will always have that. “For second and subsequent offenses, mandatory minimums are much more common,” (McCurley). In addition to jail time, one can face their license being suspended. How long the license suspension is depends on the State and the certain circumstance that one is in. Fines and fees can also be expected when someone is caught drinking and driving. Depending on how many offences one has, the cost of the fees and fines will vary along with