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Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes and Prior DWI
April 23, 2008

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Research Summary

Drinking drivers involved in fatal crashes are more likely than sober drivers to have a previous conviction for driving while impaired (DWI), according to recently released data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Drivers with a measurable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the crash were four to eight times more likely to have a prior DWI conviction than drivers who had not been drinking.

These findings suggest that increased interventions after the first DWI conviction, such as assessment and treatment for substance use problems and administrative sanctions, may help reduce the number of alcohol-involved fatal crashes.

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:
(Comments now appear first to last)

Posted by James Cooper on 24 Apr 08 08:27 AM EDT
I just want to say that my family was killed by a drunk driver. The man that did this had 7 previous DUI's, and never had any intervention or did the justice system punish him on the prior convictions. After this I left a high paying job in the oil field to devote my life to helping those in recovery. I am now Community Relations Coordinator for The Office for Addictive Disorders in my State. If this individual or other individuals like him had received some kind of intervention to get help this may not have happen. I fight every day to help these individuals, because I am in long term recovery. I think everyday that this could have been me killing someone elses family. The individual that killed my family is in prison for the rest of his life, and this also could have been prevented with the right intervention. We need more programs dealing with prevention and treatment. This is a medical disease just like any other disease. I know I also have cancer, so why can't our legislatures see that individuals with addiction problems, have the same services and funding available to them, and treat our disease just like any other. It is life threatning.

Posted by one day at a time on 25 Apr 08 04:34 PM EDT
Thanky you for sharing. You are a wonderful person to do this and give back to the community. Alcholism is a disease. My son, had no treatment, he is sentenced to 20 years in jail for sleeping in his car, probations revoked on a dwi charge. I carry the message to others and have beeen in Alanon for 30 years. Wanda

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