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Are you familiar with these drunk driving statistics?

When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is important that you are 100 percent sober. If you aren’t, there is a greater chance that you could cause an accident. And remember this: An accident doesn’t just affect you.

To better understand the seriousness of drunk driving, here are some statistics you should become familiar with:

— Every day, people drive drunk in excess of 300,000 times. Even so, only a small percentage are arrested for this crime.

— Millions of people drive under the influence of an illicit drug every year.

— Approximately one third of all people arrested or convicted for driving under the influence are repeat offenders.

— Anybody, regardless of age, sex, or location, can be arrested for drunk driving.

As you can see, drunk driving is a big problem throughout the country. Even if you never think twice about doing this, you never know the status of other drivers. The best thing you can do is avoid drinking and driving. When you do this, you know you’ll never cause an accident as the direct result of being intoxicated.

Secondly, you should pay attention to those on the road around you. For example, you may notice that another driver is having a hard time staying in one’s lane of travel. In this case, the person may be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

If you are involved in an accident with a drunk driver, make sure you contact authorities. In addition to receiving medical assistance, you will want police to create a report for future use.

Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, “Statistics,” accessed Aug. 23, 2016

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