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Richmond DUI Arrests Up Labor Day Weekend

One Reason Why You Need a Lawyer to Fight Your DUI/DWI Arrest

Virginia's "Implied Consent" Law Can Be Challenged

Preliminary Breath Test for Virginia DUI

Virginia State Police Statistics Disprove Link Between Drinking and Auto Accidents

Traffic accident statistics compiled by the Virginia State Police (VSP) for calendar year 2007 (the most recent reporting period) dispel popular belief that alcohol is involved in most accidents. 

Of the 145,405 auto crashes in that year, only 7,019 drivers out of  265,589 involved were deemd to have been "impaired." That is 2.9 per cent of the total crashes. The statistics for that year indicate that 97 percent of the drivers involved in crashes were not impaired by alcohol.

These percentages were consistent with those reported the previous year. Of  279,505 drivers involved in the 151,692 crashes reported in 2006, 7,392 drivers were impaired. Though the number of impaired drivers was higher than in 2007, the percentage of impaired drivers involved in auto accidents was 2.9 percent, and 97 percent of the crashes did not involve drunk drivers.

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Play the Odds to Survive Traveling on Richmond's I-95

The Virginia State Police (VSP) statistics for traffic accidents the past two reporting years illustrate some interesting facts about auto accidents in the Commonwealth in 2006 and 2007. Since Interstate 95 in and around Richmond becomes highly congested at times with travelers coming and going to from the far north and the the far south, to places in between, as well as local traffic to downtown Richmond, knowledge of the VSP factoids can help drivers be alert to the causes and take action themselves to avoid becoming a traffic fatality or injury statistic.

Surprisingly, for both years, drivers impaired by alcohol were involved in traffic accidents surprisingly little. Less than 3 percent of the drivers involved in auto accidents reported in each year involved were drunk.

Almost half (47%) of the accidents were merely that --- accidents --- involving no moving violations being issued to any of the drivers involved. However, 11 percent of the accidents involved one driver being cited for following too close, and over 8 percent involved drivers cited for failing to yield the right of way.

Accordingly, when traveling I-95, maintain a safe distance between your car and those in front and behind you. Be alert to cars changing lanes and yield to those entering or trying to exit their lane or the highway.