PROVEN LOCAL LAWYERS
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PROVEN LOCAL LAWYERS
HELPING YOU RECOVER

Alcohol an ongoing factor in accident deaths

by | Dec 9, 2018 | car accidents

For many people in Kentucky, the thought of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after having too much to drink is virtually unthinkable. This is with good reason as the facts about the dangers of drinking and driving have been well publicized for many years now. However, it seems that some people have not learned this lesson as they continue to make careless choices that all too often have tragic outcomes.

According to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the state of Kentucky saw 181 people die in motor vehicle accidents in which alcohol was a factor last year. That represents more than one out of every four people who were killed in crashes during the year. In 2016, drunk driving deaths in the state number 176 and in 2015, 192 people lost their lives at the hands of impaired drivers, up from 171 the previous year.

Across the country, drunk driving continues to be a problem. The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility data shows that in 2017, more than 37,000 were killed in vehicle accidents in the U.S. A whopping 29 percent of those died in drunk driving accidents. Of the more than 10,800 people killed by intoxicated drivers, two out of every three perished in crashes in which a driver’s measurable blood alcohol content was at least 0.15 percent – nearly twice the legal limit.

Clearly, more effort is needed in both Kentucky and all other states to keep people safe from the irresponsible drivers who refuse to put away their keys when they want to consume alcohol.