Hawaii certainly has its share of poor drivers. You may not want to be grouped into those individuals, but if you decide to drive when drunk, then you could end up facing trouble from the law for your actions.
It’s no secret that many people think they can drive after one of two drinks. You might think it’s safe to drive if you feel sober, even if you’re not. While the truth is that having any alcohol in your system can affect your ability to drive safely, that doesn’t always stop drivers from getting behind the wheel while drunk.
Hawaii has some of the worst drivers in the nation
According to a study completed by Car Insurance Comparison, Hawaii has been ranked 14th on a list of states with the worst drivers. There are five categories that helped rank the state. Those included:
- Drunk driving with fatalities involving impaired drivers
- Speeding and deaths linked to speeding
- Failure to obey and deaths for failing to obey traffic laws
- Fatality rate per 100 million miles
- Careless driving, including pedestrians and cyclists killed by dangerous drivers per 100,000 residents
Hawaii actually ranked first for the category of drunk driving. It ranked fourth for speeding. For fatality rate, it ranked 36th. Failure to obey was 32nd. Finally, careless driving had Hawaii ranked at 36th.
Overall, Hawaii’s rank worsened in the last year compared to the 2018 ranking of 18th. This is still better than Hawaii’s worst ranking, which was 7th in 2016.
What should you do if you’re accused of driving while intoxicated?
If you decide to get behind the wheel when you’re intoxicated, whether it’s by alcohol or drugs, you’re immediately putting yourself into a position where you could be stopped and arrested. If you swerve unusually, can’t stay on the road, cause a collision or otherwise appear to be driving recklessly, an officer can pull you over. You’ll need to submit to a Breathalyzer test if requested, too, which can further make the officer’s case.
Getting caught doesn’t mean there is no way to defend yourself, though. It’s important that the authorities still follow the law, make a lawful traffic stop and make a lawful arrest. On your side, you can exercise your right to stay quiet, so that you don’t say or do anything incriminating. Your attorney will look into your case and do what they can to help prevent harsh penalties and a lasting impact on your life.