The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has reported that while men accounted for a higher proportion of drivers with blood alcohol concentrations at or above .08 percent as well as who are involved in fatal crashes, the number of women who drive drunk are substantial. Statistics show that in 2009, 22 percent of female driver involved in fatal passenger vehicle accidents had a BAC at or above .08 percent while 16 percent had BACs more than twice the legal limit.
A few years ago, guys mostly dominated the headlines and the statistics when it came to motor vehicle accidents involving driving under the influence (DUI). These days, not so much anymore – as an increasing number of car accidents involving women driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs have captured national attention.
Take for example, a recent fatal car accident in Southern California where a 41-year old mother of 3 caused a fatal rollover accident after she drove straight into a tree with her kids inside the vehicle. The crash killed 9-year old Chloe Honeycutt and broke the back of her 17-year old brother Charles, as both got ejected from the vehicle as they were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The mother, Karen Honeycutt was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and 3 counts of DUI causing injury. Authorities revealed that she had 4 prior DUI convictions in San Diego County.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has reported that while men accounted for a higher proportion of drivers with blood alcohol concentrations at or above .08 percent as well as who are involved in fatal crashes, the number of women who drive drunk are substantial. Statistics show that in 2009, 22 percent of female driver involved in fatal passenger vehicle accidents had a BAC at or above .08 percent while 16 percent had BACs more than twice the legal limit.
While alcohol abuse right before driving is dangerous for anyone, there is more cause to worry when it comes to females who drink and drive. According to the IIHS, women can attain a higher level of BAC and can become more impaired than men even if they consumed the same amount of alcohol.
Studies have shown that the effects of alcohol vary greatly as the rate of absorption is affected by factors such as weight, amount of fat tissue, and stomach contents. Alcohol is processed differently by women and men and even if they drank the same amount or have the same weight, women are more likely to be impaired.
Alcohol impairment is dangerous – the higher a person’s BAC is, the greater his or her probability of being involved in a car accident. Drivers with BACs at or above 0.15 percent have a very high risk of being involved in a police-reported crash or dying in a crash. This is because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and it can impair driving skills that are necessary for safety as it can lower a person’s motor, visual, and cognitive abilities.
Unfortunately, most accidents involving drunk drivers affect not just them but also many innocent people. Thousands of passengers, motorists, and pedestrians get seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver yearly.
