The DUI In Autonomous Mode

You may have seen the story on the nightly news because it certainly was a national sensation for a few nights. Two California Highway patrol officers noticed that a driver was sleeping behind the wheel of his vehicle, but the vehicle somehow was not veering off the roadway. They tried to pull the man over the normal way – with lights and sirens. Unfortunately, that did not work.

The two quick-thinking officers assumed the vehicle must be in autonomous mode, a feature on the Tesla that keeps the car inside the lanes and will brake if it gets too close to a vehicle in front of it. The CHP officers were able to stop the vehicle by getting in front of it and gradually slowing down. Luckily, nobody was hurt in this incident. They took the 45-year-old driver into custody under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol but noted that it is not okay to operate these vehicles while drunk.

At the Simpson Law Group, this is another example of how the dangers faced by California drivers on a daily basis. If you need a car crash attorney in San Diego, call us today.

Scary Numbers

To gain an understanding of how much of a problem drunk driving is, we want to look nationally and at the state. The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency tells us that:

• 10,497 people were killed in drunk driving crashes during the latest reporting year.
• From 2006-2016, more than 10,000 people lost their lives annually to drunk driving crashes.
• Each day, nearly 29 people die in the US due to drunk driving accidents.

For the latest reporting year in California, there were:

• more than 25,000 alcohol-related injuries
• 1,369 alcohol-related fatalities in the state

All of that happens despite the fact that there are more than 150,000 DUI arrests a year in California.

Alcohol-impaired driving is irresponsible and negligent behavior.

In California, we also know that distracted driving is a serious problem. As technology weaves itself into every facet of our lives, more and more people are paying attention to a video or sending an emoji text than they are the roadway.

Often, accidents are the result of a combination of negligent behavior – drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding. The injuries from some of these vehicle accidents can be so severe that they permanently disable a person. Those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.

What Happens Now?

If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, please consider seeking legal assistance. At the Simpson Law Group, we know that you will have many questions in the aftermath of a crash. Let us help get you the answers you need.

Our qualified and experienced team will work to secure the compensation you need for all of your accident-related expenses. When you need a car accident lawyer in San Diego, you can contact us by clicking here or calling 619-236-9696 for a free consultation.