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How Public Transportation Affects DUI Rates

It may have been so long ago that you can’t remember how old you were before you began hearing warnings telling you not to drink and drive. For many, this means that if you have to drive at all, you should avoid drinking altogether. For others, it means that if you do drive to a location, then drink there, you should find another ride home.

Some campaigns against drinking and driving have been successful, but many have not. But why? For many people, it boils down to convenience. It simply isn’t convenient in many cities to get home without driving. Cities aren’t walkable, and public transportation either isn’t available at all or shuts down long before the bars do. Atlanta residents know these pain points all too well, especially those that live in the suburbs.

People in Atlanta may soon have Amazon to thank if drunk driving rates start to fall in a few years. No — no one from Amazon is going to start offering to be your designated driver. What could happen, in theory at least, is that MARTA could increase its presence throughout the city, and beyond, if Amazon decides to build its new campus in the city. The public transportation option could mean that people choose to take MARTA after a night on the town instead of taking their chances driving home.

Stats Show Public Transportation Decreases DUIs

Statistics have shown that dense cities with available public transportation have fewer instances of drunk driving-related arrests and accidents than cities without the same options. For example, drunk driving fatalities are at approximately 2.65 per 100,000 people in New York City, 6.98 per 100,000 in Philadelphia, and 2.54 per 100,000 in San Francisco.

Why these low numbers? Because these cities have ample choices when it comes to public transportation. Instead of being “forced” to look for a safe way home, a person only needs to walk to a nearby corner and wait for a bus, walk to the curb to hail a cab or, in some instances, walk a few blocks to their apartment. Any of these choices are available at any time of day or night, making it easy — and convenient — for people to get home after a night out.

Tackling DUIs in Atlanta

Other cities across the nation, Including Atlanta, could take these as an example if they want to reduce drunk driving incidents in their own towns. The numbers are clear: If a city has public transportation available in a way that makes it convenient for its citizens, drunk driving is reduced. No amount of public policy or advocacy campaigns can compete with that.

If you are arrested for drunk driving in DeKalb County, you are facing serious consequences. You are understandably anxious about what will happen next, but it’s important to know that the consequences of a conviction can last long into the future. Don’t leave your fate or your good name up to chance. Call our office today to schedule a case evaluation and let us help you make decisions appropriate to your case. We have years of experience defending clients in similar situations to yours and we will put our knowledge to work for you as we fight for your rights.

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