Texas is popular for many great things. But the one problem it cannot seem to shake is the drunk driving issue. Cases of DWI in Texas have always been high, and there are no signs that this is changing any time soon. So, here are some incredible facts and figures about Texas and drunk driving.
1. Every 2 Minutes in Texas, Someone is Involved in a Drunk Driving Accident
Information from the Texas Department of Transportation claims that every 2 minutes, someone in the state is hurt or even killed because of drunk driving. Furthermore, every two and a half hours, someone dies because of a traffic accident. As a matter of fact, well over 40% of all traffic deaths in Texas can be linked to drunk driving according to the most recent statistics.
2. One in 10 Deaths Caused by Drunk Driving Occurs in Texas
Of every 10 people who lose their lives to drunk driving in the US, one of them is from Texas. In fact, no other state experiences as high a rate of drunk driving deaths as Texas. The state is usually ahead of states like California in this regard, even though California has a lot more people than Texas.
3. Everyday, for More than 15 Years, Texas has had a Fatal Traffic Accident
While not all traffic accidents are caused by drunk driving, the worrying number of drunk driving incidents have certainly contributed to this worrying statistic. Actually, over the period, more than 50,000 people have lost their lives to road accidents, a considerable percentage of which were directly cased by drunk driving. As a matter of fact, Texas Department of Transportation has the goal of going for a day without experiencing a traffic accident fatality!
4. Drunk Driving Laws in Texas are Considered Lenient
In Texas, organizations such as MADD have come out in force to condemn the state’s permissive drunk driving laws. For instance, public figures often get away with committing serious traffic offenses while drunk. With the DWI problem going back several years back, Texas also has several attorneys helping drunk drivers front strong defenses and avoid court sentences.
5. Jail Times can be as High as 10 Years
Nearly 100,000 arrests were made in Texas because of driving under the influence. In Texas, a DWI offense can result in fines of up $2,000. If accused of DWI for the second time, the crime becomes a lot more serious, and offenders may spend up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Over 2015, there were 70,000 DUI convictions were issued in Texas.