Drunk Drivers Cause Many San Clemente Car Accidents

San Clemente in Orange County, California, has a population of over 68,000 and is one of the hot spots that draw revelers during holiday seasons. The result is that many drivers get behind the wheel while they are impaired and this has caused a number of San Clemente car collisions.

"Many San Clemente car crashes are caused by motorists who just don't bother to appoint a designated driver after they have had too many drinks," noted John Bisnar. It's no wonder that traffic deaths on surface street accidents rose from just two in 2007 to five in 2008."

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, between 2001 and 2003, San Clemente experienced four fatal accidents. In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that two people died and 200 were injured in San Clemente car accidents. DUIs caused two deaths and 30 injuries. Pedestrian accidents killed one and injured nine. San Clemente bicycle accidents injured 18 and San Clemente motorcycle accidents killed one and injured 17. Across the country, over 17,000 people die annually in DUI collisions--or one death every 31 minutes. In 2006, nearly 1.4 million drivers were arrested for suspicion of DUI.

New drunk driving statistics from the Automobile Club of Southern California revealed that since 1998, women aged 21-24 were involved in 116 percent more alcohol-related injury collisions. In contrast, injury accidents for men rose just 39 percent. Since California coastal cities seem to be a draw for social drinking, police have focused most of their DUI checkpoints in and around these locales.

To increase the safety of coastal city roadways, the Orange County Sheriff's Department conducted DUI roving patrols in San Clemente on Saturday, December 13th, 2008 and on Saturday, March 21, 2009. Police concentrated on high incidence areas of DUI-related arrests and collisions. Police arrested four people on suspicion of DUI. All told, Police made 71 traffic stops in San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente, and investigated nine drivers for DUI.

"DUI checkpoints remove a dangerous element from city roads and highways," said John Bisnar. "They continue to save lives and should be used on major roads frequented by partygoers."

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.