Photo of the University Health Center, University of Georgia
Back to Alcohol and Other Drugs page

Drinking and Driving


How Bad is the Problem?

Drinking and Driving at UGA
According to the 2005 CORE survey

  • 35.9% of UGA students reported having driven a car while under the influence compared with 30.5% of college students nationally
  • 2.2% of UGA students reported having been arrested for DWI/ DUI compared with 1.6% of college students nationally

Did You Know...

  • In 1998, an estimated 57,700 crashes in Georgia involved alcohol, which killed 513 and injured an estimated 20,800 people.
  • About 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. 5
  • In 2002, an estimated 17,419 people in the United States died in alcohol-related traffic crashes-an average of one every 30 minutes. These deaths constitute 41% of the 42,815 total traffic fatalities. 4
  • In 2001, more than half a million people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present - an average of one person injured every minute. 1
  • Drivers 21 to 24 years old were most likely to be intoxicated (BAC of 0.08 g/dl or greater) in fatal crashes in 2003. 32% of drivers 21 to 24 years old involved in fatal crashes were intoxicated, followed by ages 25 to 34 (27%) and 35 to 44 (24%). 6

How does drinking affect my driving?
The chart below illustrates the specific skills needed for safe driving, which become increasingly impaired as BAC rises: BAC chart

BAC and Impaired Driving: The Facts

  • In the state of Georgia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC level of .08 or greater. 6
  • When drivers reach .08 BAC, their critical driving skills, like judging distance and speed, steering, visual tracking, concentration, braking, and staying in driving lanes are severely impaired. 2
  • At a .08 BAC level, a person is 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than someone who has had nothing to drink. 2
  • At a .10 BAC level, a person is 48 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than someone who has had nothing to drink. 7
  • Impairment begins before a person reaches a .08 BAC level; driving after consuming ANY alcohol increases health and legal risks.

Before you or a friend gets behind the wheel...

  • Know that having even a couple of drinks impairs a person's ability to drive.
  • Remember that driving ability becomes impaired before a person "feels" intoxicated.
  • Know that it is illegal in Georgia to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher.
  • Remember that you have other options: call a cab, call a friend, take the bus-you can always come back for your car tomorrow!
  • Know your legal risks: View for Georgia's Impaired Driving Laws and Penalties.
  • Remember that it is more important to get your destination safely than to risk injury or legal penalties to self or others!

But I don't drink and drive - so how does this impact me?
Drinking and driving not only makes the roads unsafe for travelers who are not impaired, but also bears huge costs to the public:

  • Alcohol-related crashes in Georgia cost the public an estimated $3.4 billion in 1998, including $1.5 billion in monetary costs and almost $1.9 billion in quality of life losses.
  • People other than the drinking driver paid $2.1 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.
  • The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Georgia averaged $1.00 per drink consumed.
  • People other than the drinking driver paid $0.60 per drink.
  • Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 17% of Georgia's auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $60 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.
  • Click here for more information about the monetary and societal costs of impaired driving in Georgia and prevention efforts to reduce these costs.

Links and Resources

  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving: MADD works to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
  • Laws in Georgia: Learn about existing laws in Georgia related to drinking and driving, as well as underage drinking.
  • Georgia's Impaired Driving Laws and Penalties
  • Safety Laws: Check back here periodically for the latest Safety Laws and Potential Safety Legislation before the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate, from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
  • Designated Dawgs provides University of Georgia students and others in need with a safe, free ride home on scheduled nights from 11pm to 3am.

References

  1. Blincoe L, Seay A et al. The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000. Washington DC: NHTSA, 2002.
  2. Moskowitz, H., et al. "Driver Characteristics and Impairment at Various BACs." DOT HS 809 075. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, August 2000.
  3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Impaired Driving in the United States: Cost Fact Sheets." Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2001.
  4. (NHTSA 2003) DOT Releases Preliminary Estimates of 2002 Highway Fatalities News Release 4/23/03, NHTSA 13-03
  5. (NHTSA) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Alcohol and Highway Safety 2001: A Review of the State of Knowledge. 2001
  6. (NHTSA 2004) Traffic Safety Facts, 2003 data. www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov
  7. *Zador, P. L., Krawchuk, S.A., & Voas, R.B. (2000). Relative Risk of Fatal Crash Involvement by BAC, Age, and Gender (Report HS-809-050). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.