The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released a report, “High-Risk Impaired Drivers: Combating a Critical Threat”, which focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the high-risk impaired driver (HRID), a person who lacks the restraint or self-control to resist driving impaired.

According to GHSA, “A high-risk impaired driver is likely to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15g/dL or higher — or after consuming drugs or a combination of alcohol and drugs — and to do so repeatedly as evidenced by having more than one DUI arrest. Whatever the impairing substance, the high-risk impaired driver is highly resistant to changing his/her behavior despite sanctions, treatment, or education and poses an elevated crash risk. The report calls for a holistic approach to high-risk impaired drivers that focus on the individual and the need to treat the underlying problem prompting the behavior. It makes recommendations on how SHSOs can help and provides several examples of promising approaches including DUI treatment courts, data sharing and e-warrants, toxicology labs, and screening and assessments. The report was researched and authored by Pam Shadel Fischer of Pam Fischer Consulting.”

GHSA statistics show that 66 percent of alcohol-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2018 had 0.15g/dL high BAC and were more than 60 percent of the alcohol-impaired-driving deaths.

The findings have been summarized, and researchers believe that working collaboratively with law enforcement, the judiciary, treatment and prevention, and the many other disciplines discussed in the report can break the dangerous and deadly cycle of recidivism and ultimately put an end to impaired driving fatalities on our nation’s roadways.  

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports there are over 300,000 incidents involving drunk and/or drugged drivers every day in the United States. “Drunk and/or drugged driving comes at a cost, and it is one that robs us of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, and friends,” says the MADD website.

“If you or a loved one is injured because of the negligence of another driver, we are ready to assist you. There are no costs or attorney fees until there is a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact  Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.