Md. State Police Pull Over Surprising Number Of Drunk Drivers
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Dangerously drunk. There are new concerns from state police, as troopers pull over a surprising number of drivers who haven't just been drinking a little bit--they're highly intoxicated.
Christie Ileto explains that makes their risk even higher.
"We're driving drunk..." A deadly admission on cell phone video--six seconds before impact.
It's recorded moments like that 2011 fatal crash in Montgomery County that state police are trying to prevent.
"Most of the people that we're coming in contact with now, it's not the people that get 1 or 2 drinks at dinner, it's people that this is what they do, this is what they like to do,"said John Sollon, SPIDRE.
Troopers net 80 for DUI across the state in one weekend--13 done by state police SPIDRE unit.
One drunk driver sideswipes a trooper, a second clocks 94 miles per hour with his nine-year-old son in the back seat. Another driver was caught twice in one night for DUI.
The average blood alcohol level by the SPIDRE unit was .17--that's more than twice the legal limit.
"I'm not shocked, but that is quite high if you're at .17," said James Patterson.
For the average man, that's seven or eight drinks. For a woman, that's five.
"Very concerned. There are far too many accidents on the road," said one driver.
Accidents that serve as sobering reminders.
According to MAAD, there were 141 drunk driving fatalities--representing 30 percent of all total related traffic deaths in Maryland.