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Binge Drivers Get Behind the Wheel At An Alarming Rate

What researchers discovered in a nationwide study will alarm you. Did you know that one in 10 binge drinkers admit to getting behind the wheel after they drank excessive amounts of alcohol? According to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that is exactly what these binge drinkers told researchers.

The study by the CDC attempted to gain insight into the likelihood that someone is to drive after engaging in binge drinking, which was defined by the authors as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages. Researchers polled 14,000 binge drinkers through a telephone survey that started in 2003 and ended in 2004. These people said that they had five or more drinks on one occasion. Among those surveyed, 12 percent said that they had driven within two hours of their last round of heavy drinking.

Some people included in the study said that they got behind the wheel after consuming as many as 10 drinks. Even though drinking over a long period and eating food can slow the impact of alcohol, 10 drinks is a lot no matter how you justify it.

Dr. Timothy Naimi, an epidemiologist with the CDC’s alcohol programs, said that binge drinking is a major factor in the more than 11,000 fatalities that occur every year from drunk driving accidents. The study showed a need for increased efforts to stop bars and restaurants from serving people alcohol after it is clear that they are drunk. Many safety advocates have stated that it is very difficult to police bars, clubs and restaurants to ensure that these institutions are not serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in New York, you may be able to pursue damages against the negligent driver. For more information, contact a Manhattan or Long Island car accident lawyer at Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445. We represent clients who have been injured throughout New York.