Driving under the influence is one of the most dangerous forms of driver negligence. Fortunately, Pennsylvania residents appear to be getting the message. The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report showed a 33 percent decline in drunk and drugged driving arrests in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2017. During the same period, the data shows a 13 percent decline in DUI arrests statewide.
According to AAA, there were fewer Philadelphia drunk driving accidents from 2015 to 2017, but fatality numbers have stayed fairly constant over the past five years, with 17 people dying each year, on average, in drunk driving accidents.
It is unclear what is causing this decline, but many believe that ride-share apps, such as Uber and Lyft, have helped tremendously. Uber has reported that the number of Uber trips is at its highest during prime drinking hours nationwide. In Philadelphia, most of the top 10 Uber destinations after 9 p.m. are bars and other places that serve alcohol. At closing time, there is a significant increase in trips leaving the bars.
While many people agree that the increased use of these ride-share apps has played a role in cutting down on drunk driving in Philadelphia, it is unclear how much of a role they have played. There are other factors to consider, such as the drop in alcohol consumption among young people and decrease in traffic enforcement in general.
Drunk driving arrests may have declined statewide, but they still happen every day in State College. If you were arrested for drunk driving, it may be in your best interest to have a criminal defense attorney evaluate your case. Your attorney may discover that the officer who stopped you did not follow proper protocols when administering your field sobriety tests and breathalyzer, or that your blood alcohol level was inaccurate due to faulty equipment. Without the proper evidence, prosecutors may have no choice but to drop the charges against you.