Alaska Has 6th Highest DUI Arrest Rate in Nation

An alarming report by SafeHome.org has found that Alaska sixth most arrests in the nation for driving under the influence (DUI).

Researchers used FBI and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2017 to compile the report.

During that time, there were 419 arrests for DUI per 100,000 residents in Alaska. The national average is 309 per 100,000 residents.

Other Findings From the Study

The good news – if there can be any from such a report – is that the 2017 numbers represent a nearly 50 percent (49.5%) decrease in the amount of DUI arrests from the previous year.

Disturbingly, though, 28 percent of traffic fatalities in Alaska during that time involved an impaired driver.

Top 10 States With Highest DUI Arrests

Here’s the breakdown of the 10 states with the highest DUI arrests per 100,000 people nationwide.

  1. South Dakota (939)
  2. North Dakota (836)
  3. Wyoming (561)
  4. Maine (436)
  5. Colorado (422)
  6. ALASKA (419)
  7. Hawaii (418)
  8. Montana (413)
  9. Wisconsin (406)
  10. Vermont (393)

Delaware and North Dakota are the two lone states to experience an increase in DUIs during the reported time.

Environment Where Most DUIs Are Reported

In what may be a surprising part of the report, more DUI arrests were reported in rural counties (586) than in suburban sections (324).

Researchers feel the discrepancy may stem from more people being able to walk to their destinations in a suburban area.

The Deadly Problem of Drunk Driving

While a nearly 50 percent decrease in the number of Alaska DUI arrests is encouraging, it doesn’t refute the overwhelming problems that come from driving drunk.

Reports backed up by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) confirm that someone is injured by a drunk driver in the U.S. every two minutes.

Also, the reported decline in the amount of DUI arrests is no indication that less people are driving drunk. Of the 1.2 million arrested yearly for DUI, about a third have admitted to driving drunk before.

Call the Alaska Personal Injury Lawyers with Barber & Associates if You’ve Been Injured by a Drunk Driver.

We remain vigilant in our stand against impaired driving, and are proud to have collected millions in compensation for many Alaskans injured by drunk drivers.

For a free consultation, call us at 800-478-5858. You can also reach us via email or by completing our online contact form.

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