drunk driving

Published on: March 5, 2024

Record Driving Rates Spur Fears of Spike in Car Accident Risks

Just over a month into 2024, and road transportation authorities are already reporting record driving volumes across the United States. As historically seen, high rates of driving typically translate into a higher rate of car accidents.

According to the Department of Transportation, in 2023, US drivers took to the roads in record numbers, traveling 3.263 trillion miles. That was a significant increase of 2.1% and a new yearly record. Overall, according to transportation authorities, road travel across the country last year increased by 67.5 billion miles with an increase of 2.2% in December. Travel is back not just to pre – pandemic levels, but also higher than the levels recorded before 2020.

There have been a couple of solid reasons for the increase in vehicular traffic. Foremost has been the return to the workplace for many American workers. Employers are terminating their work from home phases, and companies are actively encouraging their employees to return to offices. In an uncertain job market, many employees have chosen to obey the call to return to the workplace, rather than insist on a work from home arrangement. That has meant more congested car traffic in Georgia and across the country. Holiday traffic in 2023 was also at significantly high volumes, and many Americans who had been limited by their ability to travel since 2020 chose to travel during holidays to meet family and friends. Adding to the desire to travel by road has been significantly lower gasoline prices. Low gas prices typically translate into higher road travel for Americans.

Published on: January 29, 2024

Drunk Driving Car Accident Prevention Technology May soon Be Standard in all Cars

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The federal administration has kickstarted the rule-making process that would require drunk driving car accident prevention technology on all new cars.

This welcome announcement was made by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which recently announced that it has started work on the rule- making process that would require impaired driving prevention systems on all new cars. These systems that work to prevent drivers from operating a vehicle include technology that measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath and prevents him from operating the engine if it detects a certain amount of alcohol in his system. This technology is very similar to the ignition interlock systems that are currently used in several states, including Georgia, as penalties for repeat drunk driving offenders. Other technologies that will be reviewed include camera systems that can monitor eye movements in order to identify if a driver is impaired or driving under the influence of alcohol.

At this point, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiative would allow regulators to collect data about the various systems that are currently in place in automobiles and their impact in reducing the incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol. If things reach their preferred conclusion, we could have drunk driving auto accident prevention sensors, cameras or other systems in all new cars as a standard feature. There is no doubt that this could significantly help reduce the number of car accidents caused by impaired drivers.

Published on: October 28, 2022

Judge Approves Bond for Motorist in Fatal Atlanta DUI Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A judge in Fulton County has set a bond for a motorist who police allege, caused a drunk driving accident on I- 20 early in the month. The impact of the crash caused one of the passengers in the car the motorist hit, a 21-year-old woman to be ejected from the car. She sustained fatal injuries. The other people in the car were also injured, and still recovering in the hospital.

This judge set a bond of $310,000 for the alleged driver on charges that range from DUI to first degree homicide. For the family of the woman killed in the accident, it’s been a frustrating experience to see the man they believe responsible for their loved one’s death out on bond.

There has been a decline in injuries and fatalities caused by drunk driving accidents across Georgia. For example, in 2008, there were 416 deaths caused by drunk driving accidents. That was a decline over 2007, and mirrored the drop across most of Georgia, and, in fact, most of the country. Much of this decline can be attributed to better enforcement efforts .Law enforcement has become more aggressive about cracking down on drunk drivers randomly over the weekends and major holidays.

Published on: October 11, 2022

Report Finds Widespread Drugged – Drunk Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A new study finds that a significantly high number of people who consume alcohol and drugs go ahead and operate a motor vehicle after doing the same, raising their risks of being involved in an auto accident.

According to the study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as many as two-thirds of persons who consumed alcohol and imbibed marijuana also admitted to driving within 2 hours after the fact. The results of the study are disturbing because each of these behaviors is dangerous on its own. Your risk of being involved in a car accident increases substantially even if you are only under the influence of alcohol or only under the influence of drugs. A combination of the two, however, would be lethal behind the wheel.

As many as 7 out of 10 drivers in the study admitted to driving after consuming alcohol. Only about one in 10 drivers admitted to driving after having ingested both alcohol and drugs. However, among these, 33% admitted to operating a motor vehicle within 2 hours after ingesting alcohol and marijuana.