| The alarming figures with regard to the | | | | people die everyday in alcohol related car |
| number of deaths caused by car accidents that | | | | accidents.In addition to these figures, |
| involve alcohol have prompted state | | | | estimates show that the economic and societal |
| governments and the Federal Government to | | | | cost of alcohol related car accidents are |
| take critical steps to prevent fatalities. | | | | very high. Alcohol impaired drivers cost |
| One of these steps is to lower the allowable | | | | American taxpayers about 21 to 24 billion |
| blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from 100 mg | | | | dollars a year. Other studies show a much |
| dl to 80 mg/dl. However, such measures have | | | | higher figure of $136 billion dollars is |
| proven to be inadequate as more recent | | | | spent on alcohol related accidents. This is |
| figures show a dramatic increase in deaths | | | | in addition to the huge insurance costs of |
| caused by car accidents involving alcohol. | | | | alcohol related accidents and the injury, |
| More stringent laws have to be enacted to | | | | destruction and death that come with |
| prevent these accidents, which may include | | | | them.State and Federal Governments have |
| imposing stiffer penalties for DUI or driving | | | | lowered the allowable BAC that is aimed at |
| under the influence cases.Recent figures show | | | | lowering the number of deaths caused by drunk |
| that instead of the expected decrease in the | | | | driving. However, recent figures show that |
| number of alcohol related deaths as a result | | | | there has been a dramatic increase in the |
| of imposing a lower BAC, quite the opposite | | | | number of deaths caused by drunk driving. |
| has occurred. In the last ten years, around | | | | Given this, there may be a need for more |
| 250,000 people died in alcohol related car | | | | stringent interventions, such as imposing |
| accidents in the United States. Figures show | | | | stiffer penalties for DUI cases. This has the |
| that 16,000 people were killed in the year | | | | potential of effectively preventing more |
| 2000, due to alcohol related accidents. In | | | | deaths caused by alcohol related car |
| 2004, that figured climbed to 25,000. This | | | | accidents. |
| means that 500 people die every week and 71 | | | | |