“A Sober Ride is Better Than a Ride to Jail:” 4th of July DUI Statistics.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2023, 12,429 people died in drunk driving crashes in the United States. Drunk driving is hazardous, and the statistics show this time and time again. As high as one-third of all of the traffic deaths reported from car accidents in the United States involved a drunk driver. Despite law enforcement campaigns informing the public of the danger of drunk driving and advising against it, drunk driving crashes happen all too often, and many times end in death. In fact, it was recently shown that alcohol-related crashes take at least one life every 42 minutes.

There is no denying the risks that go along with drinking and getting behind the wheel. Alcohol-related crashes are often linked with catastrophic injuries, death, and destruction of personal property. Driving while intoxicated is unsafe, and it is also unlawful and can land you in jail.

If you were arrested for a DUI in Illinois, depending on the details related to your case, you could be facing serious penalties and very expensive fines. Additionally, a conviction will not only lead to you having to experience such punishments, but the fallout to your personal and professional life can also be profound and adversely affect you for the long term.

You are not alone after a DUI charge; you can take action and contact a Chicago DUI defense lawyer at Glasgow & Olsson for trusted legal counsel and representation that will help you overcome your charges and protect your future. The legal team at Glasgow & Olsson has tried thousands of DUI cases and knows how to secure the most optimal results for our clients. Remember, not all DUI arrests are legally valid. Not all people who are suspected of DUI are bad people who have done wrong. Errors in a DUI arrest can be identified and exposed, and people who have been wrongfully arrested can seek justice and beat their charges.

DUI and 4th of July: The Numbers

Hundreds of people die during the Fourth of July holiday. In 2023 alone, there were 617 traffic fatalities on the Fourth. Of these fatal crashes, 38% were the result of drunk driving. As many as 27% of those who died in drunk driving crashes over the Fourth were in a crash that had a driver with almost twice the legal limit for alcohol in their system.

From 2019 through 2023, 2,653 people died in crashes over the Fourth of July holiday, with 1,679 of those deaths being drivers. Of those drivers that died, 643, or 38%, were also drunk at the time of the crash.

The age group with the most drunk drivers over the Fourth of July was those who are aged 21-34.

Trusted, Proven DUI Defense

It is critical to avoid driving while intoxicated, but if you were unfairly targeted by law enforcement on the Fourth of July and are now facing DUI charges, the quality of your legal representation can shape the course of your life. At Glasgow & Olsson, we don’t just practice DUI defense—we help define it.

Thomas Glasgow is widely recognized as a leading authority on DUI law in Illinois. He lectures statewide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, contributes to the definitive DUI legal manual used by attorneys across the state, and is a trusted legal voice on major networks, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.

When your freedom, reputation, and future are on the line, experience, judgment, and respect matter most.

Speak with our Chicago DUI defense team today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.