The DUI Crisis: Sweden's laws could be America's roadmap to tackle rise in drunk driving deaths
WASHINGTON, DC: The perilous cocktail of alcohol and speed has become an alarming issue in the United States. Around 28 people in America lose their lives every day in drunk-driving car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2020, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, making up 30% of all fatal traffic accidents in the US.
The most recent tragedy that has shocked the nation was the death of a newlywed bride because of drunk driving. Samantha Hutchison and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, were leaving their wedding reception in a golf cart with two friends when an alleged drunken driver, Jamie Komoroski, struck them at Folly Beach, South Carolina, on April 28. The crash killed Samantha on the scene and left Aric severely injured. Upon Komoroski’s arrest, it was revealed that she was heavily drunk. Her impairment was over level eight.
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Why does Sweden has the lowest rate of drunk driving fatalities?
Over the years, the US government has implemented severe measures to combat the DUI epidemic. As per the national law, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or greater is prohibited for those who are at least 21 years old. However, the US still has a far higher BAC level compared to many European nations, which effectively defeated the DUI crisis long ago. In Europe, the lowest rate of alcohol abuse and drunk driving is seen in Sweden, where the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is .02, according to LifeSafer. In Sweden, the amount of fine is determined by the offender’s bank balance and repeat offenders have their cars seized and destroyed by the government.
Some other European countries like France, Germany, and Italy also have strict laws against drinking and driving. All these nations have a legal BAC level of .05, while The Czech Republic and Hungary have a zero-tolerance law, which forbids any amount of alcohol in the blood. The BAC limit is even tougher in Russia, where offenders lose their license for life after being convicted of driving under the influence, as per BBC.
DUI laws across the globe
However, there are also some nations that enforce even stricter punishment in addition to jail times, fines, and loss of driving privileges. Authorities in Australia penalize criminals by submitting their names to local newspapers for publishing. Poland on the other hand forces their offenders to attend multiple lectures. South Africa fines DUI offenders $10,000 and/or sentences them to ten years in jail, whereas Saudi Arabia publicly flogs offenders who commit DUI offenses. But when it comes to El Salvador, a DUI conviction can mean a death sentence!
