Wisconsin is 4th Most Dangerous State for Drunk Driving

According to a recent report, Wisconsin ranks fourth in the country as one of the most dangerous states for drunk driving. North Dakota ranked first, followed by Montana, Idaho, Wisconsin, South Carolina and South Dakota.

The study, conducted by CarInsuranceComparison.com, reveals that states in the Midwest and West are the most dangerous. The director of the study noted that this could be because these areas have higher than average alcohol consumption combined with the risk of running into dangerous weather conditions like snow and sleet during the winter months.

The study ranked all 50 states by analyzing statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the FBI, DrivingLaws.com, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Kids Count Data Center.

The rankings took into account a number of criteria, including:

• Total number of drunk driving fatalities, which accounted for 35 percent of a state’s score
• Arrests for DUI, accounting for 25 percent of the score
• Penalties for DUI, which accounted for 20 percent
• The cost per fatality, which made up 10 percent of a state’s score
• Types of laws that discourage drunk driving, which accounted for 10 percent

Harsher DUI Penalties

The study comes just a few days after Governor Scott Walker signed into state law harsher penalties for repeat drunk drivers. The new law would makes a fourth DUI offense a felony rather than a misdemeanor.

The bill will also increase the maximum prison sentence for fifth offenses and higher. A fifth or sixth-time offender can now face a maximum of five years in prison, up from three years. Seventh-time offenders and higher could face up to seven and a half years, up from five years.

The Governor hopes that the new law will send a signal that Wisconsin takes drunk driving very seriously and is working to prevent deaths caused by a drunk drivers. The new law goes into effect this week.

Drunk driving accidents are devastating incidents. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a drunk driver, do not hesitate to contact our auto accident lawyers for a free review of your claim. An injury lawyer in Milwaukee from PKSD can help you seek justice. Call 414-333-3333 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.