On Monday, November 11, 2024, an accident occurred on U.S. Highway 287 near the Village Creek Road exit at 2:30 a.m. Rachel Hadley, a 26-year-old, crashed her SUV into a construction barrier.
A gentleman, driving a Dodge pickup truck, stopped as soon as he saw the accident to help the woman. However, while he was helping her, another vehicle struck the back of his pickup truck. The collision threw the man, causing him to sustain minor injuries. Thankfully, he was released from the hospital the same day.
The cause of both of these accidents was drunk driving.
Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming more and more common across Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) started a campaign in June of this year to remind Texas of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This campaign showed a grim picture of the frequency of DWI accidents. To further this campaign and spread awareness of the dangers of drunk driving accidents, our team goes over the latest statistics published by TxDOT.
Overview of Drunk Driving in Dallas-Fort Worth
Drunk driving accidents are horrific and often lead to serious injuries to both drivers and passengers as well as irreparable damage to both vehicles. In the worst cases, these accidents result in death. On average, there were 65 alcohol-related accidents on Texas roadways every day in 2023. These accidents led to an average of three deaths per day.
What Makes Drunk Driving So Dangerous?
Alcohol is a depressant that reduces the function of the brain. This leads to impaired thinking, damages reasoning skills, and reduces muscle coordination. All of these abilities are the key to driving a vehicle safely. As the alcohol content in one’s system rises, the effects it has on the nervous system also increase.
An individual’s alcohol level is measured by the weight of alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is known as the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). In Texas, it is illegal for a driver to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08. If a driver’s blood or breath shows that they are driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, they will be cited for a DWI.
However, even a small amount of alcohol can negatively affect one’s driving ability. In 2022, there were 2,337 people killed in drunk driving accidents in the United States where drivers had a BAC of 0.01-0.07 g/dL.
Here is an overview of the effects that alcohol can have on the human body:
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Loss of balance
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Slower reaction time
- Poor judgment
- Loss of self-control
- Lowered reasoning skills
- Impaired memory
- Short-term memory loss or lapses
Latest DFW Drunk Driving Statistics
Despite the heightened risk for an individual to be involved in an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, some individuals still choose to drive. The most recent report from TxDOT shows the following:
- There were 1,505 fatalities due to drunk driving accidents in 2023. This was a decrease from 2022 when there were 1,654 fatalities.
- One person died in Texas every seven hours and 32 minutes due to a driver choosing to drive while intoxicated.
- The city of Dallas had the seventh-highest amount of fatal drunk-driving accidents in the United States. There were 130 drivers that were found to have a BAC of 0.15+ and 181 drivers with a BAC of 0.08+.
- Dallas County had the second-highest DUI accidents in the state with 2,275 crashes. It was just behind Harris County, which saw 3,553 crashes.
- The average age of individuals involved in drunk driving accidents in Texas was 23.
- Males were more likely to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of a drunk driving accident than females.
- The time of day that saw the most accidents was 2:30 A.M.
- The day of the week that saw the most accidents was Sunday.
- More drunk driving accidents happen on rural roads than on urban roads.
Trends in Drunk Driving Incidents
Over the past year, the number of drunk driving accidents has slightly decreased. Unfortunately, the number of fatalities has gone up. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Texans are more likely to die from an alcohol-related accident than anywhere in the United States.
- Over 2% of Texans admitted to driving after drinking too much.
Programs, such as TxDOT’s ‘Drive Sober. No Regrets.’ campaign, aims to spread awareness to reduce the number of accidents. However, despite these efforts, the state of Texas continues to face repeat offenders and underage drinking, which contribute to higher accident rates.
Impact of Drunk Driving in DFW
Drunk driving accidents cause significant damage, not only to the individuals involved in the accident but to their communities as well. Devastating loss of life, severe injuries that fill emergency rooms and hospitals, along with the emotional trauma for family and friends have a ripple effect on society.
Economically, drunk driving accidents cost the state over $3 million per incident. This includes property damage to roads, signage, nearby buildings, and roadways. Local businesses also experience economic loss when it is their employees who are involved in a drunk driving accident. Productivity and availability of the workforce are severely impacted when these accidents result in serious injuries or death.
Legal Consequences of Drunk Driving in Texas
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Texas. All convicted drivers aged 21 or older can expect to face the following penalties, depending on the offense:
- First offense:
- Up to $2,000
- Jail time between 3-180 days
- License suspension of up to two years
- Annual surcharge of up to $2,000 for three years to keep their license
- Participation in a DWI intervention or education program
- Possible ignition interlock device
- Second offense:
- Up to $4,000 fine
- Jail time between one month and 1 year
- License suspension of up to two years
- Annual surcharge of up to $2,000 for three years to keep their license
- Participation in a DWI intervention or education program
- Possible ignition interlock device
- Third offense:
- Up to $10,000 fine
- State prison time between 2-10 years
- License suspension of up to two years
- Annual surcharge of up to $2,000 for three years to keep your license
- Participation in a DWI intervention or education program
- Possible ignition interlock device
- DWI conviction with a child passenger (anyone under the age of 15):
- These are all additional penalties
- Up to $10,000
- Jail time up to 2 years
- License suspension for 180 days
- Charge of child endangerment
- These are all additional penalties
Indirect Consequences of Drunk Driving Accidents:
Drivers who are charged with DUI after an accident can expect their car insurance costs to jump up by 70%. This means that they could potentially be paying an extra $1,500 a year for basic insurance.
DWI Safety Measures and Prevention
There are steps that drivers can take to keep themselves and others safe on the road. One of the best ways is to simply avoid driving if you are planning to drink. This and the following practices can aid in decreasing the risk that you are involved in a drunk driving accident:
- Never ride in a vehicle with someone who you suspect is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- If you are going to a party or restaurant and plan on having a drink, make sure you have a designated driver or an alternative mode of transportation, such as a rideshare.
- Plan safe parties that include non-alcoholic beverage options.
The city of Dallas also has plenty of community programs to spread awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence. These programs have made a huge impact on the families of those involved in drunk driving accidents and the community. These programs are as follows:
Resources for Victims of Drunk Driving
There are plenty of resources for victims of a drunk driving accident and their families in the DFW Metroplex. These initiatives are as follows:
- Legal Aid of North West Texas Hotline
- Trauma Support Services of North Texas, INC
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Contact a Professional Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
The attorneys at Branch & Dhillon, P.C. can help you claim the compensation you deserve after an accident. As one of the leading law firms in the DFW area for car accidents and personal injury lawsuits, we have a strong track record that you can trust. Our lawyers always put our clients first, which is why we work with a no-win, no-fee policy. Contact Branch & Dhillon, P.C. today for more information on our services or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation. We will help get your family back on the road to a successful recovery and bright future.