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Before you plan to drink, plan to answer this: Who’s Your Driver?

 

Test your knowledge about safe & sober driving.

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A designated friend. A ride-sharing service. The trusty, dependable taxi. A public bus, or train, or tram, or ferry. Even a cycle rickshaw. Any of these would be better than getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking.

In 2023, 4400 people were injured and 293 people were killed as the result of alcohol-related traffic crashes in Virginia – 100% of which were preventable. So, before you plan to drink, plan to answer this: Who’s your driver?

FACTS ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING

  • About one-third of all fatal traffic crashes in Virginia are alcohol-related.

  • 14,247 people were convicted of a DUI in Virginia in 2022 and 67% of Virginia DUI convictions were males.

  • The average BAC per tested drinking driver in Virginia in 2022 was 0.155…almost twice the legal limit!

In Virginia, the fine for a first DUI conviction is around $2,500 and may also include:

  • Up to a year in jail.

  • A mandatory ignition interlock device that requires the driver to blow into a breathalyzer to start the engine.

  • A one-year suspension of all driving privileges.

In Virginia, you are legally considered Driving/Operating Under The Influence (DUI) if you operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. Even if your BAC is lower than .08, you may still be considered Under The Influence if your ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired.

  • Every 2 minutes a person is injured in an alcohol-related incident.

  • On average, nearly 30 people die each day as a result of alcohol-related crashes

  • Even a BAC as low as .03 percent can impair your ability to drive.

  • Among drivers in fatal crashes, men are almost twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated.

  • Each year, seat belts saved nearly 14,000 lives in the U.S. alone.

  • Seat belts have saved an estimated 345,000 lives since 1975.

  • An unrestrained person is 4 times more likely to die if they are ejected from a vehicle in a crash.

  • If you’re sitting in the back seat, a seat belt can reduce the risk of death by 60%.

  • More unrestrained victims are killed in pickup trucks than any other vehicle.

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