New government statistics show that fewer Americans are risking arrest and years of higher auto insurance costs by drinking and driving.
This week, the Department of Transportation released figures showing that the percentage of drivers found to have a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher fell from 7.5 percent in 1973 to 2.2 percent in 2007.
"I'm pleased to see that our battle against drunk driving is succeeding. However, alcohol still kills 13,000 people a year on our roads and we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent drunk driving," said Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood.
Some of the findings in the government report showed that male drivers were 42 percent more likely to drive impaired than female drivers, and that drivers were more likely to be illegally impaired between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. than any other time of day.
Also, the report found that motorcycles and pickup trucks led the way in overall rates of operators with illegally high blood alcohol levels. The report also found that 16.3 percent of nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for illegal drugs.
Learn how easy and convenient shopping for auto insurance can be. Get your free auto insurance quotes today!
Posted: July 14, 2009
Related Auto Insurance Articles
- Wyoming uses technology to catch insurance scofflaws July 13, 2009
- California eyes new kind of auto insurance policy July 10, 2009
- Fewer highway fatalities good news for auto insurance customers July 10, 2009
- Distracted driving costs consumers, insurance companies July 10, 2009
- New York insurance scam took in over $1 million July 9, 2009
- Insurance companies should be notified of motorcycle upgrades July 2, 2009
- New ways to save emerge as recession lingers July 1, 2009
- Insurance company and LoJack team up on security June 30, 2009
- Consumers pad their savings accounts June 26, 2009
- Uninsured motorists likely to be on the road this summer June 25, 2009
