Table Of ContentResources for Information
The Facts About and Assistance
Impaired Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1−800−GET−MADD or 1−800−438−6233
www.madd.org
In 2009, 10,839 people were killed in crashes
National Center for Victims of Crime
involving alcohol-impaired drivers in the United
202–467–8700
States.1
www.ncvc.org
In 2009, the holidays on which alcohol-related
crashes represented the highest percentage of National Organization for Victim Assistance
total fatalities were Memorial Day (42 percent), 1–800–TRY–NOVA or 1–800–879–6682
New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July (40 www.trynova.org
percent each), and Labor Day (38 percent).2
Students Against Destructive Decisions OVC
About 3 in every 10 Americans will be
1–877–SADD–INC (723–3462)
involved in an alcohol-related crash at
www.sadd.org
some time in their lives.3
HELP sERIEs
In 2009, an average of 1 alcohol-related fatality
occurred every 48 minutes in the United States.4 This product was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime under
for Crime Victims
an agreement with ICF International in support of the Office for Victims
In 2009, 14 percent of child traffic fatalities—
of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center under contract number
181 deaths—were caused by alcohol-impaired
GS–23F–8182H/OJP–2006F_124. The opinions, findings, and conclusions
drivers.5 or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do
In 2009, 32 percent of traffic fatalities involved noof tJ unsetcicees.sarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department Impaired Driving
drivers with a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or higher. An
additional 6 percent involved drivers with a
BAC of between .01 and .07 g/dl.6
EnDnoTEs
1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010, 2009
Traffic Safety Facts, Washington, DC.
2U.S. Department of Transportation, 2011, Fatality Analysis
Reporting System/General Estimate System (FARS/GES)
2009 Data Summary, Washington, DC.
3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, March 2001,
The Traffic Stop and You: Improving Communications Between
Citizens and Law Enforcement, Washington, DC.
4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010,
2009 Traffic Safety Facts, Washington, DC.
5Ibid.
6U.S. Department of Transportation, 2011, FARS/GES 2009
Data Summary, Washington, DC.
What Is Impaired Driving? If You Are the survivor of an Victims of impaired driving crashes cope with the
profound loss and changes in their lives differently.
Impaired Driving Crime
But no matter how they grieve, most victims of
Alcohol and other drugs, when used in excess or
impaired driving crashes are, after a time, able to
incorrectly, impair driving by altering the brain’s
If you or a loved one is a victim of an impaired
face life with new understanding and meaning.
ability to function. Vision and depth perception
driving crime, you may be affected emotionally and
become distorted, coordination is slowed, and
physically. For injured victims and family members
judgment is negatively affected. A driver commits
of those killed or injured, often the most difficult
Where Can You Get Help?
the crime of impaired driving whenever his or her
step is to begin processing what has happened. If
ability to safely operate a vehicle is impaired by the
a loved one has been killed, this sudden, traumatic
effects of illegal drugs, prescription medications, or Advocates can provide you with information and a
death probably feels unlike any other loss you have
over-the-counter medications, or by having a blood full range of victim support services. Victim assis-
ever experienced. Coming to terms with such pro-
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dl (grams tance programs and trained professionals can help
found grief will take time.
per deciliter) or higher. you learn about crime victims’ rights in your state.
You may want to call your local or state MADD
The injustice of the death and involvement with the
Victims of impaired driving crashes are not hurt chapter to seek counselors who understand the
criminal justice system as a result of the crime may
accidentally. They are victims of a crime that is the grief that follows this kind of loss and trauma. Such
complicate your grief. If the case is treated as an ac-
result of two choices made by a driver: (1) to use organizations may also provide support through
cident by the offender, rather than a crime resulting
alcohol or other drugs incorrectly or in excess, and court accompaniment and advocacy services.
from the offender’s choice to drive while impaired,
(2) to operate a vehicle (a car, motorcycle, boat, jet
you may feel even more angry and frustrated.
ski, etc.) while under the influence of these substanc- When a loved one has been injured or killed, the
es. These choices are as dangerous to the public as financial impact can compound your sense of loss.
Everyone has a different way of processing grief
using a deadly weapon and can be just as lethal. The costs of medical care, phone bills, counseling,
and loss, and everyone does so in their own
lost wages, and funerals can be overwhelming. All
timeframe. You may experience extreme swings in
Impaired driving is a senseless crime because it states have crime victim compensation programs
emotion. You may feel guilty for not being able to
can be prevented. Thanks to the work of Mothers that reimburse victims’ families for certain out-of-
protect your loved one even though the crime and its
Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against pocket expenses, including funeral, counseling,
consequences were beyond your control. You may
Destructive Decisions (SADD), and other grassroots and medical expenses, and lost wages. Many
feel depressed or hopeless. The emotions you expe-
victim advocacy groups, public awareness of intoxi- states provide emergency funds that are available
rience may seem to use up all of your energy.
cated or impaired driving as a preventable crime within weeks of the crash. To be eligible for com-
has grown. Groups like MADD were formed to sup- pensation, the crime must be reported to the police,
This emotional suffering may also affect your physi-
port victims of drunk driving, reduce the number of and the victim and victim’s family must cooperate
cal routines. Your eating habits may change. You
deaths and injuries resulting from impaired driving with the criminal justice system.
may have difficulty sleeping or be unable to sleep
crashes, and advocate for tougher legislation.
at all. You may have nightmares about the crash or
Victim assistance programs in your community can
have difficulty riding in or driving an automobile.
provide you with compensation applications and
You may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed.
additional information.
You may have lingering physical injuries, which can
serve as painful physical reminders of your emo-
tional pain.
