# Drunk Driving Statistics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunk-driving-statistics/342263>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunk-driving-statistics/342263 "2006-01-30T21:54:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunk-driving-statistics/342263/21 "2006-01-31T23:03:05Z")

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> [@Ghanima](#):
>
> MADD has a page devoted to drinking and driving statistics and laws:  
> [Statistics | MADD](http://www.madd.com/stats)  
> According to their data, approximately 40% of traffic fatalities are drunk-driving related. I think the idea that someone can have 4 drinks in an hour or two and not be impaired is stupid. After a single drink you are already impaired.

MADD is not an unbiased source. They are a neo-prohibitionist radical movement, similar in their ability to engage in rational thinking to PETA, ELF/ALF, KKK and Fred Phelps. I’m not disputing the validity of the cite, but I would not rely upon it. If you doubt this, try researching the PETA vs. MADD beer vs. milk conflict that arose a few years ago.

> [@Ghanima](#):
>
> As for the comment about hanging out with people who drink four drinks and seem fine - try being totally sober and observing the same group. You will notice a difference, believe me.

I have many times. I’m taking medication that prevents me from drinking and have had plenty of opportunity to do just that recently.

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drunk-driving-statistics/342263/22 "2006-02-01T21:31:00Z")

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> [@groman](#):
>
> No, I know that, I’m just picking at the “obviously intoxicated” bit. I’ve aced midterms in college before in a condition where I would definitely not be able to drive. I was still able to walk straight and appear sober though.

> [@groman](#):
>
> MADD is not an unbiased source.

I hate to tell you this but your college sophomore logic isn’t exactly unbiased either. I used to hear the same arguments ten years ago:  
-Alchohol makes me a BETTER driver because I’m more relaxed (yeah…because that’s what you want to be while driving)  
-I’ve aced tests while drunk (different type of mental processing)  
-I don’t FEEL drunk  
-I can walk a straight line

and so on.

Appearing sober is not sober.

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