Virginia has some of the toughest drunk driving penalties in the country. Efforts by Virginia State Police and local law enforcement agencies over the last 25 years have had a significant positive effect on the number of injuries and fatalities caused by drunk drivers on Virginia’s roads. While this means our roads are safer for sober drivers and their passengers, it also means that, when you drive after you have been drinking, you are at substantial risk of being caught.
A Look At Drunk Driving Statistics
According to data released by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were over 18,000 drunk driving crashes on Virginia roads in 1988. Drunk driving was to blame for 12% of all crashes and 49% of all fatalities that year. In contrast, there were 8,000 drunk driving crashes in 2013—a decrease of 55%. Fatalities were also cut in half and injuries due to drunk driving crashes decreased by 67%. This is all good news, but what is most interesting about these statistics is that with a 55% decrease in crashes, there was only a 30% decrease in DUI convictions. This means that people are still drinking and driving in large numbers, but law enforcement is doing a much better job of stopping them before they cause harm.
The Odds Are Not in Your Favor
What does this mean to you? If you drink and drive, it means there’s a good chance you will get caught. If you don’t drive drunk, it means you could end up being falsely accused. Although the crackdown on DUI offenders is making Virginia roads safer, the need to get drunk drivers off the road can make some police offers overzealous when it comes pulling people over. If you’ve been falsely accused of a DUI, call us today at 703-865-6610 for a free consultation. We’ll make sure your rights are upheld so you don’t become a casualty in the war on drunk drivers.
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