While there have been signs of improvement over the years, drunk driving remains a serious and deadly problem in Ohio.
According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited by Bankrate, thus far in 2022, alcohol has contributed to 32% of all traffic fatalities in this state.
To break it down, of the 1,068 reported deaths on Ohio’s roads this year, 344 have been due to alcohol. This means that, in this state, slightly fewer than 1 out of 3 traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
While the number of fatalities in Ohio is not the worst among the states, historically, the national average has hovered under 30% of all traffic deaths being related in some way to alcohol.
Also, this information says nothing about the thousands of other Ohioans who suffer serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents involving a drunk or drugged driver.
Drinking and driving is unacceptable behavior, and those who do it should pay
This state and other states have spent decades now educating drivers and the general public about the dangers of drinking and driving.
This is common knowledge, but alcohol affects a driver’s ability to make critical and rapid decisions, a skill drivers must rely on to keep others safe. Alcohol also affects a driver’s coordination, so it takes longer to stop or change course than usual.
This is true even when a driver does not feel drunk or believes they have only had a little alcohol and, thus, should be fine to drive.
Especially with criminal penalties hanging over their heads, if there is any doubt in a driver’s mind about their legal sobriety, they should not operate a vehicle.
Those who cause accidents by drinking and driving also owe it to their victims to pay compensation for the damages they cause. In addition to out-of-pocket expenses like medical bills and lost wages, they also should pay compensation for the victim’s suffering and distress.