Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is against the law in all 50 states. Unfortunately, many drivers get behind the wheel while intoxicated in Pennsylvania despite the law. If you get involved in an accident with a drunk driver, consult with a specialized drunk driving accident attorney in Pittsburgh about how to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.
How Many People Are Arrested for DUI Each Year in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s driving under the influence law (P.A. General Assembly § 3802) prohibits driving, operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle after imbibing in an amount of alcohol that renders the individual incapable of safely controlling the vehicle. Pennsylvania’s legal blood alcohol concentration limit for a driver is 0.08 percent.
Thousands of drivers are arrested in the Commonwealth each year for driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays alone in 2024, 690 DUI arrests were made by law enforcement officers. The unfortunate reality seen by accident lawyers in Pittsburgh is that many drunk drivers cause serious and fatal motor vehicle accidents before they are stopped and arrested.
Alcohol-Related Crashes in Pennsylvania
Alcohol is a significant factor behind automobile accidents. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, alcohol was involved in at least 8,337 car accidents in 2023. These drunk driving accidents took 308 lives and injured thousands of others. Although these numbers represent a decrease from 2022 (8,683 accidents and 320 deaths), driving under the influence is still a top safety issue.
In 2023, alcohol-related car accidents made up one-fourth (25 percent) of the total number of traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania. The majority of fatalities in drunk driving crashes occurred in the vehicle that was driven by the drunk driver (drivers and passengers). On average each day in 2023, 23 alcohol-related crashes took place in Pennsylvania.
Statistically, accidents involving driver intoxication were more than four times more likely to result in fatal injuries than those not related to alcohol in 2023 (0.8 percent vs. 3.4 percent, respectively). Drunk driving accidents are often deadly due to risk factors such as speeding, wrong-way driving and red-light running.
Pennsylvania Underage Drinking and Driving Facts
Pennsylvania crash statistics for 2023 show that 10 percent of driver fatalities in the 16 to 20 age group were underage drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. In 2022, 23 percent of drivers killed in this age group were drinking drivers, marking an improvement between the two years. The highest number of deadly drunk driving accidents involved the 21 to 25 age group. The majority of drunk drivers involved in car accidents were male (73 percent).
Drunk Driving Accidents Spike Around the Holidays
The holidays are known for being the most dangerous times of year for alcohol-related car accidents. In Pennsylvania, crash statistics found that 11 percent of all holiday accidents in 2023 involved the use of alcohol. Shockingly, 29 percent of all deaths that occurred on holiday weekends were related to drinking and driving.
The most dangerous holidays for drunk driving accidents are Thanksgiving and Christmas. The three days surrounding Thanksgiving 2023 saw 401 crashes and 7 fatalities, while Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had 218 crashes and 3 deaths. Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day and New Years are also dangerous holidays for DUI accidents in Pennsylvania.
If you get hurt in an accident involving a drunk driver, contact a Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer at Dallas W. Hartman P.C. for a free legal consultation about your rights and options.