Articles Posted in DUI

In an effort to reduce Chicago area car crashes, the Libertyville, Illinois Police Department is running special patrols this St. Patrick’s Day week, according to Tribune Local. They are taking a zero tolerance stance against impaired drivers.

Police chief Clint Herdegen is stating that if you drink and drive in Libertyville on St. Patrick’s Day, you lose. The chief is recommending that you select a designated driver before you start celebrating, and to act responsibly or risk getting arrested.

The Tribune article goes on to state that, according to IDOT, over the past five years an average of 15 people lose their lives in Illinois car crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. Over that same time span, over 1200 people were injured in an Illinois auto accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled new technology last week that could someday eliminate the threat of drunk driving car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys frequently report on the dangers of drunk driving crashes in Illinois. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports alcohol was involved in 42 percent of fatal Illinois car crashes in 2009. A total of 381 motorists were killed as a result of drunk driving crashes.The Illinois Department of Transportation reports at least 85 people were killed and 316 seriously injured in Chicago car accidents involving alcohol or drugs in 2009.

As authorities continue to look for ways to reduce the dangers of traffic crashes involving alcohol, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working to develop the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS).

Unlike ignition interlock devices — which are temporarily placed in the cars of some repeat DUI offenders and test for the presence of alcohol before the car will start — the DADSS is designed as standard equipment installed by the manufacturer. Prototypes work by either passively testing a drivers breath for the presence of alcohol or by touch, such as a thumbprint.

“Drunk driving continues to be a national tragedy that needlessly claims the lives of thousands of people on our highways each year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We need to put an end to it.”

Federal data shows drivers in fatal accidents with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 are eight times more likely to have been previously convicted of DUI than drivers who did not test positive for the presence of alcohol at the time of a crash.

The research has the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other road-safety organizations. “Auto makers have stepped up to help turn cars into the cure,” said MADD President Laura Dean-Mooney. “This project has made substantial progress and this technology could one day be an important step in our efforts to eliminate drunk driving.”

The $10 million government effort is being conducted in conjunction with the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, which is an industry group representing most of the world’s auto manufacturers.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland called it the “new frontier” in automotive safety but cautioned it won’t replace common sense.

“Whatever the future holds for these advanced drunk driving prevention technologies, one thing remains clear; no technology can, or should, ever replace a driver’s personal responsibility not to drive drunk,” Strickland said.
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While Super Bowl Sunday will not be as chaotic with the Bears out of the picture, the fact remains that the biggest football day of the year is also among the most dangerous days for Chicago car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers urge party hosts and football fans to celebrate responsibly, designate a driver and avoid drinking and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is partnering with the NFL, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and a number of other organizations in promoting the safety campaign, “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” “Football is one of America’s favorite pastimes, but fans can put themselves in serious danger if they don’t plan ahead,” said David Strickland, NHTSA Administrator.” Whether you’re at the game or watching from a sports bar or a friend’s house, designate a sober driver before the game. And remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

Nationwide, about one-third of all traffic fatalities involves a drunk driver. Nationwide, about 11,000 people a year are killed in drunk driving accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Alcohol involvement was cited in more than 4 in 10 fatal crashes in Illinois in 2009, accounting for 381 of 911 fatalities.

The following safety tips have been adapted from information provided by the NHTSA:

-Leave your keys at home if you plan to drink and have a plan before setting out for the evening.

-Put the phone numbers for local cab companies in your phone.

-If you are hosting a party, offer plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.

-Never serves drinks to a guest under the age of 21.

-Set a time to stop serving alcohol, say at the end of the third quarter or an hour before the end of the coffee. Serve coffee and dessert.

-Do what’s necessary to prevent a party guest from drinking and driving.

-Have a place for guests to spend the night if necessary.
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Before you head out to your New Year’s Eve Party, make arrangements ahead of time for a safe drive home. Starting off a new year with a bang is the right idea unless it involves a hospital bed or a funeral home. Our Chicago auto accident attorneys want to remind you to not drink and drive this holiday season and to do your part to keep the roads safe for everyone.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 156 fatalities in the United States on New Year’s Eve and Day that occurred as a result of at least one driver in the crash with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. Illinois recorded 3 fatalities on these same two days but two of those fatalities involved a BAC level of .20 or higher which is well over the legal limit of .08. Each year, hundreds of others are seriously injured in Illinois car accidents caused by drunk drivers through the holiday season.Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants to remind Illinois drivers that the penalties for drunk driving can be severe, especially if a serious or fatal accident is involved.

The penalty in the state of Illinois if you drive under the influence and cause an accident that kills someone is 3-14 years. If more than one person is killed in the accident the penalty is no less than 6 years up to 28 years in addition to a possible fine of up to $25,000.

Orland Park, located just outside of Chicago is increasing patrols this week according to an article in TribLocal Orland Park. It is just one of many communities taking a zero tolerance stance when it comes to drunk drivers. Seat belt violators, speeders and aggressive drivers will also be targeted.

If local residents of Orland Park or the surrounding areas can’t come up with a ride home then they should rely on the Safe Ride Home program funded by Michael P. Gordon Memorial Foundation where local establishments will call a limo service to get you home safely at no charge.

A number of other local services will also be available to get you home safe. The trick is to plan ahead, stay safe and enjoy the New Year’s weekend in a safe and responsible manner. Start your year off on the right foot and don’t drink and drive. Not only can you save your life but it could save the life of others, too.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pushing states to adopt a “no refusal” strategy when it comes to dealing with motorists suspected of drunk driving. As our Chicago car accident lawyers often report, drunk driving is responsible for about one-third of the nation’s fatal traffic accidents.

Somewhere in The United States, someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes. Last year, more than 41 percent of fatal Illinois car accidents involved alcohol, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Nationwide, more than 11,000 motorists were killed in accidents with drunk drivers.As part of its effort to combat drunk driving, the government is pushing states to adopt a “No refusal” strategy, which would allow law enforcement to obtain warrants from “on call” judges in order to take blood samples from suspected drunk drivers who refuse a breathalyzer test.

“Drunk driving remains a leading cause of death and injury on our roadways,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I applaud the efforts of the law enforcement officials who have pioneered the ‘No Refusal’ approach to get drunk drivers off our roads. And I urge other states to adopt this approach to make sure that drunk drivers can’t skirt the law and are held accountable.”

Many suspects refuse the tests in the hopes of beating the charges at trial. States have used implied consent laws to automatically suspend a driver’s license for a period of time equivalent to a conviction –usually six months or a year for a first offense — in cases where a driver refuses the test. Implied consent means a driver agrees to take the test if requested when he or she is issued a driver’s license.

States with high refusal rates include New Hampshire (81 percent), Massachusetts (41 percent), Florida (40 percent), Louisiana (39 percent) and Ohio (38 percent).

“MADD is proud to support NHTSA, as well as our heroes in law enforcement, in their focus on ‘No Refusals,’ said MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney. “Working together, we can make our roadways safer and eliminate drunk driving in the U.S.”

Illinois is one of several states that already use the strategy. Other states include Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Utah, Idaho and Arizona. Some states are better than others at more routinely pushing for warrants and mandatory testing in refusal cases.

“When it comes to drunk driving, we cannot afford to have repeat offenders,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “The ‘No Refusal’ strategy helps support prosecutions and improves deterrence, which means fewer drunk drivers on the road. I want to remind everyone this holiday season: if you’re over the limit, you’re under arrest. So please, for safety’s sake, find a designated driver or take a taxi if you are under the influence.”

This year’s holiday drunk driving crackdown includes $7 million in national television and radio advertising and runs from Dec. 15 to Jan. 3.
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Our Chicago car accident attorneys encourage revelers to make arrangements to get home safe this holiday season. If you are going to be drinking, don’t drive. And make sure friends and loved ones also have made arrangements for safe transport home.

Companies and safety organizations are offering professional designated drivers this holiday season in an effort to reduce the risks of Chicago car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

The Chicago Tribune reports the “Fans don’t let fans drive drunk” campaign at Soldier Field and a company called ‘Be My Designated Driver” are two such efforts. That company charged $45 plus tip to take a customer and several friends home from a Lincolnshire party recently.Parents should take special care to speak to their teenagers and young drivers about the importance of making good driving decisions this holiday season and not drinking and driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 11,000 deaths resulted from drunk driving accidents last year — or one death every 45 minutes. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports there have been a total of 373 alcohol-related traffic crashes in the state so far in 2010.

The SouthTown Star recently reported that the night before Thanksgiving — Black Wednesday — is the busiest night of the year and kicks off the holiday season. Increased patrols, sobriety checkpoints and other efforts by law enforcement will be aimed at reducing the risks associated with Chicago drunk driving accidents and serious and fatal car accidents elsewhere in Illinois.

We encourage you to celebrate responsibly to help ensure the safety of you and your family, as well as other motorists on the road.
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The number of drivers who tested positive for drugs in the aftermath of a fatal crash has increased in the last five years, according to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Like drunk driving accidents, drug involvement frequently leads to impairment which can contribute to serious and fatal car accidents in Chicago and the surrounding area.Serious and fatal accidents involving the allegations of drug use require an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer. Some drugs remain in a driver’s system long after their ability to impair driving ability. For instance, marijuana remains in a person’s system for about a month. As the government points out, the presence of drugs in a driver’s system does not mean that he or she was impaired at the time of the crash.

But a first-of-its-kind analysis came to a startling conclusion: About 1 in 6 drivers involved in fatal accidents tested positive for drugs. Of the 21,798 drivers killed in crashes last year, 63 percent were tested for drugs. Eighteen percent of those tested had drugs in their system.

Drug use among fatally injured drivers has also increased in state reports, from 13 percent in 2005 to 18 percent in 2008.

The study includes tests for narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens and other types of mood-altering substances. Drugs included illegal narcotics, prescribed medications and over-the-counter drugs.

Authorities are urging drivers to take the side effects of medication seriously and to take responsibility for avoiding the dangers of driving impaired even when prescription or over-the-counter medications are responsible.

“Every driver on the road has a personal responsibility to operate his or her vehicle with full and uncompromised attention on the driving task,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “Today’s report provides a warning signal that too many Americans are driving after having taken drugs, not realizing the potential for putting themselves and others on the highway at risk.”

As part of the battle, the federal government’s Drug Evaluation and Classification program has trained 1,000 instructors and 6,000 police officers in 46 states to recognize symptoms of impairment by drugs other than alcohol.

“If you are taking any drugs that might impair your ability to drive safely, then you need to put common sense and caution to the forefront, and give your keys to someone else,” Strickland said. “It doesn’t matter if its drugs or alcohol, if you’re impaired, don’t drive.”
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety is funding a $10 million study that could make new-age ignition interlock devices as standard in new vehicles as seat belts and airbags.

The Boston Globe broke the story in the wake of criticism of the federal government for not doing enough to focus on driving safety issues aside from the aggressive campaign against distracted driving. As our Chicago injury lawyers reported recently on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, alcohol continues to be involved in one-third of all fatal car accidents nationwide.Earlier this month the federal government reported the number of fatal Illinois car accidents declined to 911 last year, from the 1,043 reported in 2008. However, the percentage of fatal crashes involving alcohol actually increased from 34 percent to 35 percent.

Many states require ignition interlock devices for drunk driving offenders. The systems require a driver to blow into a tube and tests for the presence of alcohol before permitting a vehicle to start. However, the system being tested by a Massachusetts defense contractor would be completely passive. A number of hurdles remain — not the least of which are the privacy concerns such a system is sure to raise. But safety advocates believe it could ultimately save 9,000 lives a year. Not since the 15,000 lives a year saved by the seat belt has such a safety improvement hit the market.

Congress is considering providing another $10 million in funding to the project, which is in testing through 2013. Cost is another hurdle, as is the size of the units. Prototypes are the size of a large shoebox, while industry experts say they would need to be the size of a cell phone to make them practical.

“We just don’t think it’s appropriate that people who have no problem with drunken driving and impairment should have to be subjected to having to have this kind of a device,” Jim Baxter, president of the National Motorists Association, told the Globe. “It will create more problems than it was ever intended to solve.”

However, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other organizations intend to throw their support behind making the devices standard.

“MADD is very excited about this,” said national spokesman J.T. Griffin. “This could really eliminate drunk driving in America.”
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