17 Million Americans Drive Drunk Annually

To warn motorists about the dangers of drunken driving, the US government is spending about $13 million for an advertising campaign to publicize increased enforcement through the upcoming September 6 Labor Day weekend.

Courtesy: Press TV

(TEHRAN Press TV) - A US government study says nearly 17 million Americans have driven a vehicle while drunk at least once within a year.

According to a 2008 survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated eight percent of all drivers, or 17.2 million people had driven a vehicle at least once even though they knew they were drunk.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey conducted in late 2008 found that 20 percent of those 16 and older reported driving within two hours of drinking alcohol.

Moreover, eight percent of nearly 7,000 respondents who participated in the phone survey said they got a ride from a driver they thought was drunk. This was particularly a problem for males aged between 21 and 24. In this age group, 24 percent admitted riding in a car driven by someone they thought had drunk too much alcohol.

"Drunk driving is deadly, it's against the law, and unfortunately, it's still a problem," US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement announcing the survey results.

Meanwhile, 31 percent of fatal road accidents, or 10,684 car crashes, involved a drunk driver, according to NHTSA figures posted on its website.

To warn motorists about the dangers of drunken driving, the US government is spending about $13 million for an advertising campaign to publicize increased enforcement through the upcoming September 6 Labor Day weekend.

Source: Press TV