Driving drunk is a serious crime in all 50 states. People can be arrested for driving with a 0.08% BAC or higher and frequently are throughout the United States. One research project shows that about 80% of all American drivers have heard of a BAC, nit only about 27% of all drivers can correctly identify the legal BAC limit in their state. As well, most people have no idea how much they can drink until they will be over the legal limit. While the legal limit may be at 0.08%, studies show that people with a BAC level as low as 0.02% may be affected.

Their driving response time and ability can be damaged, but the probability of an accident increases even more significantly after a person reaches a BAC of 0.05%. After the BAC increases to 0.08%, the danger for an accident is much higher. In fact, a driver with a BAC if 0,08% is 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than a driver who has had no alcohol at all and is out on the road. Because the dangers are so prevalent, the police have chosen to prosecute DUIs strictly and without lenience.

To reach the 0.08% legal limit, a man weighing 170 pounds would need to consume at least four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach. A woman weighing 140 pounds would need to consume three drinks in one hour on an empty stomach. When the alcohol enters the system, it dilutes the water volume of the body, and vital organs that contain a lot of water are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the drinks. Because the brain carries a large amount of water, this essential organ is typically one of the first to feel the needs.

After this, research shows that it takes about six hours for the body to eliminate alcohol from the system when a person reached a BAC of 0.08%. This means that even if it has been a few hours and you are not feeling as woozy as earlier, you may still be better off calling a cab or waiting to drive home. Statistics show that three out of every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related collision at some point in their live, and on average someone is killed by a drink driver in America every 40 minutes. More than half of all drivers involved in fatal DUI collisions had a BAC above 0.15% in the year 2007.

These sobering statistics prove why law enforcement takes DUIs so serious. In addition to this, drunk driving has been proven as the cause for about one-third of all traffic fatalities throughout the nation. In the year 2007, it is reported that 1.4 million Americans were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There were about 159 self-reported episodes of drunk driving in that same year.

Research also shows that it is much more common for drivers to be involved in DUI collisions at night. Reports show that about 36% of all drivers involved in nighttime crashes were legally drunk when arrested, while about 9% of all drivers in daytime collisions are under the influence of alcohol. About 75% of all DUI collisions happen between midnight and 3 a.m. as this is typically the time that intoxicated drivers are just leaving the bar, club, or party where they had too much to drink.

About 35% of all drivers in alcohol-related collisions are between the ages 21-24. Most DUI crashes occur on the weekend when drivers are out partying and fail to prepare for the future by designating a driver. If you want more information about DUIs and about the charges associated with this crime, then you need to talk to a local attorney today.