| Drunk driving or driving under the influence (DUI) is the | | | | Injuries caused in such accidents comprise of roughly |
| act of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of | | | | 10.94% of the total 284,871 traffic injuries in California. It |
| alcohol or while in an inebriated condition. It is a | | | | also states that in 1997, a total of 1,100 people were |
| common problem in the United States and the rest of | | | | killed in alcohol-related accidents in California - this |
| the world. DUI is responsible for 41 percent of total | | | | equates to 3 people per day. These deaths roughly |
| traffic deaths. Alcohol tends to get absorbed into the | | | | represent almost 29.96% of the total 3,671 traffic |
| bloodstream and is carried to the brain immediately | | | | fatalities in California. |
| upon consumption. Laws in the US in relation to DUI | | | | Strict and stringent laws have been enacted to deal |
| have become extremely strict. In the state of California | | | | with offenders caught while DUI. Jail sentences range |
| alone there are approximately 200,000 arrests for DUI | | | | from 2 days to 120 days depending on the intensity of |
| every year. The law has enforced strict and stringent | | | | the offence. Similarly DUI schooling may also be |
| measures against people who have found to have a | | | | recommended. This may range from 15 weeks to 18 |
| blood alcohol count of 0.08% or more. | | | | months. Sale of the vehicle or impounding may also |
| Based on California law, a person under the influence | | | | take place with the proceeds going towards charity. |
| of alcohol is charged on two counts, a Vehicle Code | | | | Statistics have proved that since the enactment of the |
| section 23152(a) count, driving impaired by alcohol and | | | | 0.08% blood alcohol count, the DUI arrests have |
| 23152(b), driving above a .08% Blood Alcohol Content. | | | | decreased by an assenting rate of 45%. The number |
| California Highway Patrol records, 1998 states that in | | | | of deaths and injuries has also shown a 50% |
| 1997, a total of 31,189 people were injured in | | | | decrease. This is a positive indication, which proves |
| alcohol-related traffic accidents in California. This | | | | that to an extent, the imposition of fines and |
| comes down to approximately 86 people per day. | | | | punishments has shown affirmative results. |