Every year there is a focus by law enforcement to stop drunk driving. However, despite their best efforts, drunk driving accidents still occur, and the news is not good in Tennessee. According to News Channel 9, from 2016 to 2017, per 100,000 residents, the state had 3.7 fatalities due to drunk driving. That was an increase of about 11.5% in 2017 from 2016.
Compared to other southern states, this was a big increase. In Alabama, there was actually a 4.1% decrease in drunk driving deaths. However, overall, the increase is Tennessee was the 20th highest in the country, which means there are quite a few other states seeing such concerning increases in the number of drunk driving fatalities.
The study that introduced this data from Delphi Behavioral Health also showed that the drivers in these accidents were likely to be under the age of 24. Teenagers made up 15% and drivers 21 to 24 made up 27%. It also showed that over half of the drivers in these fatal accidents had a blood alcohol content that was almost double the legal limit of 0.08%.
There is a lot to learn from these statistics about who is getting behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol and about the need for further education on drunk driving. Furthermore, an increase of almost 12% in fatalities is something that requires stricter attention by law enforcement. Every life lost to a drunk driver is one life too many. However, it is a combined effort that can put an end to these accidents, and everyone has to do their part, including drivers who make choice about drinking and driving.
