San Diego DUI Crashes Involving Female Drivers on the Rise
San Diego has seen an increase of alcohol related crashes in young female drivers. Is it because of the rise in young Hollywood starlet DUI arrests recently? A researcher with the Automobile Club of Southern California has noted that there could be a trend here.
Researcher Steven Bloch has done a study which revealed that with the recent arrests of Nicole Ritchie, Paris Hilton, and Lindsey Lohan there has been a substantial increase in young female drivers involved in serious alcohol related crashes.
In San Diego County, Bloch said that the largest increase in fatal and injury crashes were among females driving under the influence of alcohol between the ages of 21-24. There were 110 crashes in 2007, up from 49 in 1998 a 124 percent increase, Bloch said.
Another factor in the rise is because advertisers from the alcohol beverage industry targeting young women through the products it develops and packaging if provides. “Walking through the supermarket, I saw one drink that was packaged to look like a perfume bottle.” said Bloch.
According to federal statistics, men are twice as likely as women to be involved in fatal crashes. The majority of fatal substance related crashes are from men with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher.
“A lot of folks don’t realize they’re impaired when they get behind the wheel,” said Teri Kern’s operations director for Occupational Health Services in San Marcos. “There’s still a stereotype that people have to be “drunk” to get a DUI,” she said.
Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County
With young Hollywood getting DUI’s and the attention it receives from other motorists. Driving under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug in California is still against the law.
If you have 0.08 percent or more by weight, of alcohol in your blood, you will be charged with a DUI if apprehended. You could be facing fines and jail time if convicted.
Web Related Resources:
REGION: Serious DUI crashes up among young female drivers, study shows, North County Times, February 15,2009
If you have been arrested for DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol and need an experienced San Diego DUI Attorney to help. San Diego DUI Attorney Victor Orsatti from the San Diego Law Center has years of experience winning DUI and DWI criminal cases
