Alabama has found itself sixteenth on a list of the worst states for drunk driving, according to data analyzed by backgroundchecks.org and released in March 2017. Alabama is one of the top DUI States!!
The Yellowhammer State had a DUI death rate (per 100,000) of 5.08 and 7,863 DUI arrests. First on the list was Wyoming, followed by:
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- South Carolina
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Wisconsin
- North Carolina
“To create a ranking of states, we took a combination of deaths directly attributable to DUIs, DUI arrests per 100,000 people, and drinking too much before driving, as reported by drivers themselves,” backgroundchecks.org said in its release of the data. “We then created a weighted formula.”
The original data used to create the weighted formula came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. BackgroundChecks.org focuses on public safety, online privacy, home security and open government, and it regularly gathers new data and research on issues affecting public welfare.
Take Note: If you have lost your license and need to work on driver’s license restoration, browse through the attorney directories on www.Drunkdrivingattorneys.com or www.DriversLicenseRestorers.com. Pick an attorney experienced and knowledgeable in the driver’s license appeal (restoration) process in your state. If you need to get treatment to help make a case for restoring your license, there are treatment center directories on both sites. If you need information about points on your driving record, check your state department of motor vehicles. In Alabama, go here. Helping yourself is always the first step in having your DUI attorney help you.
A factor in Alabama making the backgroundchecks.org list very well could be the state’s lack of resources to monitor and enforce driving and DUI laws. Various locations in the state are reporting shortages on their police forces, including the north Alabama town of Florence.
“Staff is not available due to sickness, injuries, retirements and military service,” Florence Chief Ron Tyler said in a recent article. “We have 26 vacancies now, or that will occur soon.”
“We have become a reactive police force, instead of a proactive force,” he said. The situation is much the same in other Alabama communities, and is indicative of a larger national situation.
“Departments are struggling to find not only interested, but interested and qualified, candidates to join the force,” Jim Burch, vice president of the Police Foundation, said in a recent NBC News report. “With everything happening around policing from salary to criticism, the question many people are asking is ‘is it worth it?’”
Information on Alabama’s DUI laws can be found here. And, even more information on DUI laws across the nation can be found here.
The Auburn-Opelika metro area of Alabama is reportedly the worst location in the state for drinking-related issues, according to an online article in 24/7 Wall St.
At the time of the article, more than 16 percent of adults in the Auburn-Opelika metro area, located in east-central Alabama, reported heavy drinking or binge drinking — defined as at least five drinks for men and four drinks for women on a single occasion — in the past 30 days. Among other things, Auburn is home to Auburn University.
“The fact that over 10,000 people a year die from DUI-related accidents is a travesty,” Trent Wilson, co-author of the backgroundchecks.org research, was quoted as saying. In addition to those killed, some 200,000 sustain injuries as a direct result of someone driving under the influence, the organization notes.
“We hope this research will open some eyes and make people think twice before drinking and driving,” Wilson said.
