DUI STATISTICS

IN ILLINOIS

“Driving Under the Influence” is defined as operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, other drugs or intoxicating compounds and or methamphetamine. In Illinois, a driver is legally considered to be under the influence if one has a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more, has used any illegal substance, or is impaired by medication (including prescriptions). A driver’s BAC is based on the ratio of alcohol to blood or breath. An individual with a BAC between .05 and .08 may still by convicted of DUI if additional evidence determines that the driver was nevertheless impaired. In 1997, the Illinois general Assembly passed legislation to lower the illegal BAC limit from .10 to .08. Illinois was the 15^th state to impose such a change.

The effect of alcohol on an individual is determined primarily by two factors: the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which it is absorbed by the body. Other contributing factors include gender, body weight, alcohol tolerance, mood, environment and the amount of food consumed.

From the first drink, alcohol can affect physical coordination and judgment. Even with a BAC well below .08, a person’s reaction time can significantly slow down. The risk of being in a crash begins to increase with a BAC between .04 .05 and increases rapidly thereafter. By the time a driver reaches a BAC of .06, he or she is statistically twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as a non-drinking driver. By the time a driver reaches a BAC of .08, he or she is reportedly 11 times more likely to be killed in a single-vehicle crash than a non-drinking driver.

The only way to rid the body of alcohol is time. Fresh air, coffee, a shower and food cannot help a person become sober any more quickly than without. On average, it takes about an hour for the body to metabolize one drink. (Men generally metabolize alcohol more quickly than women, but it depends on one’s individual metabolic rate.) Each of the following has a comparable amount of alcohol and counts as one drink: one 12 ounce beer, one 5 ounce glass of wine or one 1.5 ounce shot of “hard” liquor. The amount of alcohol in a poured or mixed drink will vary due to the type of drink or the person who serves it.

STATISTICS FROM

ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

(FOR 2007)

• 503 people were killed in alcohol related crashes, which was 40% of the 1,249 total crash fatalities.
• More than 49,600 DUI arrests were recorded by the Illinois Secretary of State.
• 92% of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.
• 2, 516 drivers under the age of 21 lost their driving privileges due to “use it or lose it” law violations.
• 20% of those arrested for DUI are women (80% percent are male).
• Males ages 21-24 had the highest DUI arrest rate
• 83% of all drivers arrested for DUI are first offenders.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (2007)

• Alcohol related crash fatalities in 2007 totaled 14, 619.
• Drivers with a BAC of more than .08 who were killed in crashes were 10 times as likely to have a prior conviction for driving under the influence.
• Six states now require a first time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Interlock Device installed on his or her vehicle.