DUI Statistics: What Percentage of People Have a DUI?
Drivers in Wisconsin can count on Mishlove & Stuckert, LLC to mount a strong defense in drunk driving cases. Working with a skilled operating while intoxicated (OWI)/driving under the influence (DUI) lawyer can help you get changes reduced or dropped.
A number of our clients have questions about the prevalence of drunk driving arrests and convictions. Below, we look at some revealing statistics about drunk driving. We’ll note the age of drunk driving arrests in the state, repeat offenses, and the rate of repeat drunk driving offenses as well.
How Common Are Drunk Driving Charges?
The State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation notes that in 2015, there were 28,790 drunk driving arrests within the state. According to records compiled up to 2015, 448,624 Wisconsin drivers had at least one OWI. That’s about 7 percent of the state’s population.
Arriving at an estimate of total drivers in America with a DUI involves extrapolating some numbers. According to findings by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there were 1,017,808 drunk driving arrests in America in 2016, but that’s just for a single year. One unscientific statistical estimate on Quora suggests that up to 17 percent of the US population has at least one DUI/OWI in their past.
How Many People Drive Drunk in General?
It’s also important to note that arrests don’t always paint the whole picture of drunk driving. According to findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 111 million people self-reported drunk driving in 2014; 121 million people admitted that they drove while under the influence of alcohol in 2013. It’s been suggested that an average driver will drive drunk multiple times before their first arrest for drunk driving.
Which States Have the Highest Drunk Driving Rates?
According to a 2012 map of self-reported drunk driving from the CDC, Wisconsin had one of the highest drunk driving rates in the nation. The five states with the highest drunk driving rates were as follows:
- Montana - 3.4 percent
- Nebraska - 3.4 percent
- North Dakota - 3.3 percent
- Iowa - 3.1 percent
- Wisconsin - 3.1 percent
Repeat Offenders with Drunk Driving Charges
According to a 1995 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recidivism rate for drunk driving is about one-third. That means roughly 33 percent of people who have a drunk driving arrest are likely to have another drunk driving arrest later in life. Keep in mind that these numbers may be changing since these numbers are a generation old, yet the findings are food for thought.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has more recent numbers on recidivism. Based on 2015 numbers:
- 131,597 drivers had two OWI convictions
- 52,002 drivers had three OWI convictions
- 21,516 drivers had four OWI convictions
- 9,535 drivers had five OWI convictions
There are 210 drivers in the state of Wisconsin who have 10 or more OWI convictions.
The Economic Toll of Drunk Driving Collisions
According to numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving collisions resulted in $44 billion in economic losses. This means that the drunk driving accident led to lost productivity at work, hospitalization and medical treatment, emergency room visits, and damage to vehicles and other property.
Age and Drunk Driving in Wisconsin
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 7 percent of drunk drivers in auto accidents in the state in 2015 were under 21 years old. The underage OWI arrest/conviction rate remains consistent at 7 percent (1,713 underage individuals).
Results of OWI Cases in Wisconsin
In 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recorded the results of 25,734 citations that went to court. In 93 percent of OWI cases, the drivers were found guilty of operating while intoxicated.
Among these adjudicated cases, 4,475 involves incidents in which the driver refused to submit to an alcohol test upon arrest. In these situations, 94 percent of drivers who refused to take an alcohol test were found guilty.
Speak with Our Drunk Driving Attorneys
If you have been charged with an OWI and would like to learn more about your legal options, contact our team of drunk driving defense lawyers. You can reach our law office by phone at (262) 336-8140.