| On July 28, 2006, actor Mel Gibson was arrested on | | | | drivers were responsible for 30 percent of all fatal |
| suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after | | | | crashes during the week in 2003, but this percentage |
| being stopped for speeding in his 2006 Lexus LS 430 | | | | rose significantly over the weekends, during which 53 |
| on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. Gibson | | | | percent of car accidents were alcohol-related. |
| was stopped on the coast highway at 2:09 a.m. Friday | | | | DUI is perhaps the most preventable traffic safety |
| after a Los Angeles County deputy sheriff allegedly | | | | problem. No one is compelled to drink alcohol and drive. |
| observed him driving his car at more than 85 mph. A | | | | But alcohol and driving are so deeply connected in |
| breath test indicated Gibson's blood-alcohol level was | | | | American culture that the problem is unlikely to stop. |
| 0.12 percent, based on police records. In California, a | | | | This act, since drivers are impaired, can easily be one |
| driver is considered legally intoxicated at 0.08 percent. | | | | of the main cause for self-destruction. |
| Mel Gibson is just one of the famous celebrities who | | | | Still, there has been success in recent years in |
| were apprehended because of drunk driving. Other | | | | reducing the incidence of DUI. In 1980, nearly 60% of |
| celebrities who were arrested for such an act are | | | | fatal crashes had alcohol as a factor. By 1993, that |
| Nicole Ritchie, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohay, and Nick | | | | number had dropped to 43%. In the ensuing years the |
| Nolte whose now infamous mug shot has become | | | | frequency of DUI as measured in the fatal crash index |
| almost a symbol for Hollywood's out-of-control lifestyle | | | | remained relatively steady overall. But it now appears |
| and culture. | | | | to be on the rise overall, with marked spikes among |
| Drunk driving is the act of operating or driving a motor | | | | certain groups. Recently, alcohol-related deaths are |
| vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or | | | | reported to have risen for the third year running, |
| drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are | | | | according to the latest statistics from the NHTSA. |
| impaired. Drunk driving is a serious misdemeanor in the | | | | Driving while consuming alcohol is generally illegal, |
| United States. The specific criminal offense is usually | | | | though driving after drinking remains legal. In some |
| called driving under the influence of alcohol and/or | | | | jurisdictions it is also illegal for an open container of an |
| other drugs (DUI). | | | | alcoholic beverage to be in the passenger |
| In 2005, according to the Department of Justice, nearly | | | | compartment of a motor vehicle or in some specific |
| 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the | | | | area of the compartment. |
| influence of alcohol or narcotics. That's less than one | | | | A lot of studies has constantly giving us alarming data |
| percent of the 159 million self-reported episodes of | | | | on alcohol-related accidents and deaths. |
| alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year. | | | | Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes killed nearly |
| More than half of the 414 child passengers ages 14 | | | | 17,000 people in 2002 alone. Alcohol is a factor in 6% |
| and younger who died in alcohol-related crashes during | | | | of all traffic crashes, and over 40% of all fatal crashes. |
| 2005 were riding with a drinking driver, based on | | | | The only way to prevent these types of accidents is |
| statistics given by the National Highway Traffic Safety | | | | to simply refrain from drinking and driving. Charged to |
| Administration (NHTSA). In 2004, an estimated 16,654 | | | | the experiences of famous celebrities who were |
| people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. This is an | | | | apprehended because of their irresponsible acts, drunk |
| average of one death almost every half-hour. Drunk | | | | driving can also be considered a form of suicide. |