In California, determining a DUI is generally determined by the arresting officer. Nationwide, the cutoff for blood-alcohol content is 0.08%, but an officer can make an arrest if they feel the driver is showing impairment, even if their BAC is lower than that threshold. Likewise, if the driver is believed to be under the influence of drugs, either prescription, legal, or illicit, an arrest can be made.
While DUI records for 2017 are still being tabulated statewide, one study has taken aim at individual cities. The study is meant to determine which cities in California a person is most likely to experience a fatal DUI crash.
Value Penguin conducted the study and below are the 5 cities a person is most likely to be involved in a fatal DUI collision.
1. Hesperia
Located in San Bernardino County, Hesperia ranks in at 5.8 deaths due to DUI crashes per every 100,000 residents. This makes the city’s DUI fatality rate 234% higher than the statewide average for similarly-sized cities. The roadway connecting Los Angeles and Los Vegas, Interstate 15, runs through Hesperia. This may be a contributing factor.
2. Hemet
Hemet had six DUI-related fatalities in 2017. Oakland had fewer DUI-related fatalities but has 5 times the population of Hemet.
3. Bakersfield
Between 2015 and 2017, Bakersfield saw 48 DUI-related fatal car accidents. Though it only has the ninth-highest population in the state, this city had the fifth-highest number of DUI-related fatalities. It ranks in at nearly 2 times the average of the cities that were surveyed.
4. San Bernardino
San Bernardino came in with 28 DUI-related fatalities between 2015 and 2017. The city is home to California State University San Bernardino, which may contribute. Either way, insurance is higher in this city due to the large number of car thefts.
5. Paramount
Located near Los Angeles and east of Compton, Paramount had five DUI-related fatalities in 2016. Glendale, with four times the population of Paramount, had fewer DUI-related fatalities that year. In the past three years, this city has seen a 40% increase in DUI-related fatalities.
Where is your city on the list?
