{"id":533,"date":"2025-01-21T20:14:54","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T20:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mopip.org\/pip\/?page_id=533"},"modified":"2025-10-31T16:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T16:26:15","slug":"driving","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mopip.org\/pip\/driving\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Highway\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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62%* of Missouri college students drive a vehicle while on campus for school.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is imperative that these students are mindful of their driving habits and practices to keep themselves and others safe. Impaired and distracted driving negatively affects drivers visually, manually, and cognitively. Unsafe driving practices put the driver, passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians in danger. For more information on safe driving in Missouri, visit mopip.org\/DSDS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Scope<\/span><\/summary>
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National Data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, 5,623 college-aged vehicle accident victims died in a single year<\/mark><\/strong>. Another 567,000 sustained injuries.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impaired Driving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every day, about 34 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes<\/mark><\/strong> \u2014 that’s one person every 42 minutes. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths<\/mark><\/strong>.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

56% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug<\/mark><\/strong> (such as marijuana\/cannabis).2<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distracted Driving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The risk of being involved in a critical crash is  23 times greater <\/mark> if the driver texts while driving<\/strong>.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, reports showed that there were roughly 400,000 accidents caused by distractions<\/mark><\/strong>, with cell phones being the primary distraction. With this, there were nearly 3,000 deaths attributed to distracted driving<\/mark><\/strong>, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that 14% of all traffic related fatalities were from distracted driving<\/mark><\/strong>.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seatbelt Use<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a front seat passenger vehicle occupant, safety restraints can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by  45% <\/mark><\/strong>. Although approximately 92% of people wear seatbelts, millions do not.3<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Missouri Data<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 2023 there were 359 speed related fatalities<\/mark><\/strong> in Missouri.5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of Missouri students who drive a vehicle while attending classes at their university:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never Text and Drive<\/strong><\/td>Never Talk on a Phone while Driving<\/strong><\/td>Always Wear a Seatbelt<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
28%<\/td>12%<\/td>89%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Data is from the 2025 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors (MACHB) survey<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

BAC is the amount of alcohol in a person\u2019s body. A 0.08% BAC is the legal limit<\/strong> for those 21+ driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI). The legal limit for those under 21 is 0.00% BAC. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designated Driver<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A designated driver is someone who has not consumed any alcohol and\/or other drugs<\/strong>, not the person who is \u201cleast drunk.\u201d A designated driver is 100% sober. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call a taxi\/rideshare service or a sober friend <\/strong>to pick you up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit CHEERS to the Designated Driver!<\/strong><\/a> to learn more about our CHEERS to the designated driver program, and see what establishments near you offer free non-alcoholic beverages to the designated driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Drive Safe Drive Smart \/ Partners in Prevention<\/strong><\/a> for more information about safe driving.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n

Data Briefs<\/span><\/summary>
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At a Glance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n