Nationwide DUI Crackdown Over December Holidays
Federal traffic safety officials announced last week that drivers age 21 to 24 have the highest involvement rates in traffic accidents involving alcohol consumption, as thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country prepare for a crackdown on DUI and DWI offenses over the December holidays.
The report, Fatalities in Crashes Involving Alcohol-Impaired 21- to-24-Year-Old Drivers During the December Holidays, was released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on the eve of a national law enforcement and public awareness effort that will continue through New Year's Day. According to an NHTSA Press Release, the "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" campaign involves thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide, and is supported by more than $7 million in national television and radio advertising.
The NHTSA report on drunk driving concludes that: "In 2007, more than one-third (35%) of 21- to 24-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes were alcohol-impaired. . . While drivers 21 to 24 constituted 11 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2007, they constituted 18 percent of all alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, making them the most overinvolved age group for alcohol-impaired drivers."
- NHTSA Report: Fatalities in Crashes Involving Alcohol-Impaired 21- to-24-Year-Old Drivers During the December Holidays [PDF file]
- NHTSA Press Release on the Study and Holiday DUI Crackdown
- MSNBC: Group Calls DUI Checkpoints a Waste of Money
- DUI - The Basics (FindLaw)
- State-by-State DUI Laws (FindLaw)
- Drunk Driving FAQ (FindLaw)
- Browse the DUI Center (FindLaw)