Equal Rights: Women Claiming Their Spot in Drunk Driving Arrests

Posted in Auto Insurance

January 4th, 2010

Women have pushed for empowerment and social equality and have prevailed, but one area of equality they’re getting, they may not want: drunken arrests. According to new statistics, however, the number of arrests of men driving under the influence is declining while the number of arrests of women is starting to rise.

U.S. Department of Justice Crime Statistics

New crime statistics emerging from the U.S. Department of Justice tell an interesting story that has altered history a bit. In the past, the arrests of men driving under the influence significantly outpaced those of women. However, according to the stats, the number of women arrested for DUI increased by 28.8 percent between 1998 and 2007, while the number of men arrested dropped by 7.5 percent in the same time period.

According to a number of experts, the reasons for the shift are diverse, but include an increase in binge drinking among younger women who want to keep up with their male counterparts. Additionally, cultural shifts have taken place that put more women on the road and in greater roles of responsibility.

Women Drinkers Get Drunk Faster

What’s even more interesting is that the chairwoman of the emergency medicine department at Yale School of Medicine, Gail D’Onofrio, has noted that women become more impaired from alcohol than men because they have proportionately less water in their bodies than men. Unfortunately, this has been cited as another reason that women drinkers are taking in more DUIs – it’s simply easier to get drunk.

Of course, there is no reason to drive if you’re under the influence, male or female. Taking responsibility for your actions as a responsible driver means securing auto insurance and always being safe while behind the wheel. If you’re not sure whether you’re driving ability is impaired, don’t take any chances. Call a friend or a cab to avoid a DUI, or worse, an accident.