Since 2019, the statistics about drunk driving fatalities in this country have not been encouraging.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of deaths related to drunk driving in 2019 was 10,196. This number has spiked over recent years, landing 13,524, or a 33 percent increase, in 2022.
While figures from 2023 are lower, the number of deaths has not returned to 2019 levels despite all the public education and enforcement programs designed to prevent drunk driving, as well as the rise of ride-sharing.
One organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, also has noticed the increase. The Institute also pointed out that the percentage fatal accidents involving a legally drunk driver increased during the same period.
In their analysis of the information, the Institute concluded that a lower number of police officers on the streets has hampered enforcement efforts on the ground, leading to an increase in drunk driving.
The Institute also attributed the increase to what many have referred to as a mental health crisis plaguing the country. On the other hand, the Institute put less stock in recent state laws allowing drinking establishments to deliver their products or to permit patrons to take their drinks to go.
Victims of drunk driving accidents and their families should receive compensation
No matter why people are choosing to ignore all the warnings, the fact is it is well-known that drunk driving is dangerous and reckless behavior.
Massachusetts victims of drunk drivers and their families deserve justice, and they may need financial support to pay medical bills and funeral expenses as well as cover the cost of the victim’s lost income.