The Risk of Driving Under the Influence

While a recent report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that fewer Americans are driving drunk or on illicit drugs than previously, the number who are doing so is still alarmingly high. During a recent three-year period, more than 30 million Americans admitted to driving drunk, and more than 10 million said that they drove on illicit drugs. These numbers represent slight reductions in the number of impaired drivers, but they are certainly nothing to be proud of. The problem seems to be most serious among drivers in the 16-to-25 age group, nearly 20 percent of whom indicated that they had driven while drunk during the previous 12 months and their auto insurance rates increase. Impaired driving remains a serious problem.

NOTE: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 11.4 percent of drivers aged 16 to 25 said they drove on illicit drugs during the previous 12 months.