A survey of nationwide drunk driving and drugged driving rates found that New Hampshire has some of the highest rates of driving while intoxicated in the nation, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) tracks the rates of drunk driving and drugged driving in each U.S. state and compares them from year to year. The NSDUH uses self-reported information, or information from individuals ages 12 and older.
Although the NSDUH has found that the overall rates of driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) have decreased in each state over the last decade, it also found that drunk driving and drugged driving rates remain high in several states, including New Hampshire.
For example, the NSDUH found that from 2006 to 2009, 14.7 percent to 16.9 percent of New Hampshire drivers admitted having driven during the previous year while on alcohol. Although not as high as rates in other states, such as Wisconsin (23.7 percent), New Hampshire’s near 15 percent drunk driving rate puts it in the top 20 percent of states for number of drunk drivers. Similarly, 5.4 to 7.8 percent of New Hampshire drivers admitted to having driven while on drugs, putting New Hampshire in the top 10 percent of states with high drugged-driver rates.
High DUI and DWI rates put police patrols on high alert. However, this doesn’t mean that arrests are free of mistakes on the part of law enforcement or that all alcohol test results are accurate. If you have been charged with drunk driving, you need an aggressive defense to face the severe penalties that come with a drunk driving arrest. The experienced New Hampshire DWI lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. have the legal resources and courtroom experience to fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation, call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at (888) 332-5855.