Women drivers seeing DUIs rise

If you were asked to guess which sex gets more charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, more than likely you would guess males.

And you would be right. Male drivers do get more DUIs.

But if you were asked which sex is seeing a decrease in the number of DUI charges and which one is experiencing an increase, you might be surprised.

According to AAA, which cited FBI statistics, the number of men who were charged with DUI in 2010 dropped by 10 percent.

Meanwhile, DUI charges against women rose by an astounding 36 percent that same year.

In a Consumer Pulse survey conducted last October by AAA in the states of Georgia, Florida and Tennessee revealed two factors that may be contributing to the rise in DUIs among women. First, nearly four out of five respondents — 79 percent — said it is more acceptable today for women to drink than it was 20 years ago. It makes sense that something that is socially acceptable will happen more often.

Second, the majority was unaware that women can become intoxicated more quickly than men because of a higher concentration of body fat (65 percent didn’t know that) or variations in hormonal levels (68 percent had no idea).

In addition to those physical aspects, AAA notes that men’s bodies are equipped to dilute alcohol more efficiently than women because men have more water content than women and that males process alcohol more quickly because of they have a higher concentration of a particular enzyme that metabolizes alcohol.

“Going over the limit is very easy to do, and many people may not realize how little alcohol it takes to reach the legal limit,” said Joanna Newton, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group. “Simple planning before you head out for a good time can greatly reduce the chances you will end up behind the wheel of a vehicle when it may not be safe for you to drive. This will help to ensure you, and everyone else on the roadways, makes it home safely to family and friends.”

And that’s the key here. Whether you are a man or a woman, if you plan to drink away for home, plan a safe way to return to your residence. Good planning will not only keep your driving record clean, it’ll keep the roadways safer for others.

— The Albany Herald Editorial Board