Infographic: Sobering Stats on Summer Driving Dangers

With a population of nearly 13 million people, Illinois is the fifth-largest state in the U.S., but according to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if those who admitted in surveys to driving drunk — all 17 million of them — were to form their own state, it would bump the Land of Lincoln to No. 6. Considering 10,322 people in 2012 lost their lives in crashes involving someone driving under the influence, that’s not a state anyone should be in. Moreover, NHTSA says nearly twice as many people die in car crashes overall during the summer months than the rest of the months of the year combined.

Poll: Drugged Driving Versus Drunken Driving

To draw awareness to increased driving dangers during these warm-weather months, NHTSA and the Ad Council have partnered on a safety campaign. The following infographic shows some frightening statistics, particularly pertaining to drunken driving, that should remind motorists of the vital importance of staying sober behind the wheel.

NHTSA, Ad Council graphic (click to enlarge)