The National Survey on Drug Use and Health performed a study that looked at the rates of drunk and drugged driving. They complied data on both the state and national level, looking at long term trends in the number of drunk drivers.
Good News for Motorists in Pennsylvania
From 2002 to 2005, the drunk driving rate for Pennsylvania drivers aged 16 and over was 14.4 percent. From 2006 to 2009, the rate dropped to 13 percent. This drop was one of the highest in the nation, showing that Pennsylvanians were doing a better job of preventing drunk driving than many other states in the nation.
Rates for drugged driving were similar. For this study, only rates of driving while under the influence of illegal drugs were taken into account.
The study showed that Pennsylvania was below the national average for drugged driving rates, coming in at 4.5 percent from 2002 to 2005 and 3.7 percent from 2006 to 2009. The national average for the same time periods was 4.8 and 4.3.
Congrats, Pennsylvania!
While we should all be proud of the ever-decreasing rates of drugged and drunk driving in Pennsylvania, we cannot rest on our laurels. As attorneys at a Newton, PA car accident law firm, we have seen the damage drunk and drugged drivers do. We must all work to prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel, and keep trying to bring our rates even lower. Together, we can make a difference and save a life.
