Drinking and Driving vs. Riding and Driving
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 480
I have always wanted a Harley. That’s what many of us lawyers do. We wear suits all day and seek some other form of expression. I am now considering abandoning that idea. Here’s why…
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released statistics on the number of drunk driving accidents in the U.S. states in 2007. Despite a significant decrease in DUI-related deaths in 32 states, half of the same states experienced a significant increase in DUI-related motorcycle fatalities.
Overall there where 12,998 drunk driver-related deaths that occurred last year:
• 7,283 of the victims where drunk drivers.
• 2,067 victims were riding with the drunk driver.
• 1,361 fatalities were motorcyclists that were intoxicated.
• 81 of the deaths were passengers of intoxicated motorcyclists.
• 1,431 victims were occupants of other motor vehicles.
It is not surprising two of the states with a high rate of fatalities were North Carolina and South Carolina. What can be done to increase safety awareness? Higher fines and more jail time for intoxicated drivers is all I can come up with off the top of my head. If you can think of other measures, please post them!
In tune with my idea, a proposed reform package imposing stiffer penalties for both first time and repeat offenders may go into effect next year. The proposal’s goal is to eliminate the glaring loopholes defendants often utilize to get back on the road.