Drunk Driving Statistics in Colorado

Colorado Drunk Driving Offenders

Victims of auto-accidents involving a drunk driver may be able to recover damages not only from the impaired driver but also from the place that condoned over-serving said patron, such as a bar or club. Colorado’s drunk driving statistics show that impaired driving is a significant cause of traffic accidents, and the citizens causing these accidents should be held responsible.

In Colorado alone over 26,000 individuals are arrested for impaired driving every year and alcohol-related crashes make up a significant number of all traffic fatalities. In Boulder county alone 1,250 residents had DWAI/DUI charges filed against them with an average blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.156 (legal limit 0.08). These drunk driving statistics show a significant cause of injury and damage causing accidents. Colorado takes eliminating drunk driving seriously through legislation designed to prevent repeat-offenders and impose severe consequences for first time offenders.

Legislation

One of the most successful pieces of legislation in Colorado is the all-offender interlock law. This statute incentivizes first time convicted DUI offenders to install ignition interlocks for a shorter license suspension period. This is significant because drunk driving statistics estimate that first time offenders have driven drunk up to 80 times before their first arrest.

Plus, most drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license; 50-75 percent of them. Ignition interlock devices are 67% more effective at preventing repeat offenses while installed and 39% more effective after removal. In Colorado, all-offender interlock laws reduced drunk driving related deaths by 19%. These drunk driving statistics show that simple checkpoints and arrests alone are not as effective as preventative legislation.

Consequences

Once arrested, drunk drivers are initiated into two different sets of proceedings, one criminal through the courts and the other administrative through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Both processes focus on prevention of repeat offenses through education, sobriety support and severe jail and fine increases for repeat offenders.