Ellis Eskew from WNCF ABC 32 interviews Attorney Jeff Hunter about the ongoing issue of vehicle accidents involving drunk driving in Alabama. They talk about the alarming statistics, the impact on the community, and measures that can be taken to prevent these tragedies, such as using designated drivers and advocating for stricter laws. For more detailed information, check out our article, “Learn How You Can Help Prevent Drunk Driving in Montgomery, AL,” or get in touch today for a free consultation.
WNCF ABC 32 Host Ellis Eskew:
Welcome back. On average, a person is killed in a drunk driving crash every 48 minutes in the US. But what can we do to stay safe? Jeff Hunter with Floyd Hunter Personal Injury Attorneys is here to let us know what we can do to stop drunk driving. And good morning!
Thank you for having me.
Ellis:
And it is a sad situation that we are in that drunk driving is still in the news and that it’s still happening.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
Right.
Ellis:
And you see it a lot. Tell us a little bit.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
That’s right. You would think that after decades and decades of talking about this and trying to prevent people from driving drunk… It still occurs. It’s a problem that I see in my law practice very frequently. People are injured or killed by drunk drivers all the time, and we’ve got to continue to get the word out to, hopefully, make that stop.
Ellis:
Right, and in Alabama–is it worse in other states as it is here?
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
Alabama is ranked 5th in the country for drunk driving-related incidents. 200–I think the last numbers were 268 people in 2017 were killed in Alabama by drunk drivers. It’s a very serious problem, and Alabama, unfortunately, ranks pretty high in the country.
Ellis:
Right, so what can we do to keep the numbers down?
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
Sure, well, you hear this all the time: have a designated driver. If you’re out drinking with friends, have somebody that’s a designated driver. If you’re not with friends and you’re
out drinking, use a car service. There’s many options with that now. Use somebody to come pick you up and take you home. If you’re at a friend’s house or it’s your home and you’re drinking, hey, just don’t go out. Just stay at home, don’t get out on the road. And, lastly, if you’re with somebody and you see that they’re drinking and that they want to go get in the car, stop them. You know? “Don’t let friends drive drunk” is the statement.
Ellis:
Right.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
And that’s what we need to follow.
Ellis:
Right, and I think having a plan in place before you start drinking–
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
That’s exactly right.
Ellis:
Judgment’s a little impaired, and you kind of need that plan already.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
That’s exactly right, but it’s just about being smart. So, if you’re out with a group of friends, hey, let somebody be the designated driver. And don’t let somebody get behind the wheel that’s been drinking.
Ellis:
Right, and are there things that are being done to curb drunk driving or to make the roads safer?
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
Sure! Okay, so the Alabama state legislature recently had passed an ignition interlock bill that’s a new law that requires an interlock device on your vehicle if you’ve been convicted of driving drunk. Okay, it doesn’t prevent people that haven’t been convicted.
Ellis:
Right.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
But, of course, there are the typical fines. With being arrested, you have fines, you can face jail time, your driver’s license can be suspended. But, startlingly, the statistics show that almost 1/3 of people arrested for drunk driving have driven drunk before.
Ellis:
Wow.
Attorney Jeff Hunter:
So, the message is just not getting through.
Ellis:
Alright, well, thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate it, and we’ll be right back!