Drunk driving has been a problem throughout the United States, including Colorado, for many years. While authorities and organizations have done their best to cut back on this by educating the general public, there is no way of putting a complete end to this crime.

According to the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), three people are killed every two hours in an alcohol-related accident on the highway. Along with the fatalities and injuries that can result from drinking and driving, other consequences include arrests and property damage.

During 2010 alone, roughly four million American adults admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol. This works out to approximately 112 million episodes of drinking and driving.

In 2010, alcohol played a part in more than 13,300 highway-related deaths. In addition to the large number of people who were killed in such crashes, it cost Americans tens of billions of dollars.

To cut back on the number of drunk drivers on the road, many police departments and organizations have increased their focus on this crime. Zero Tolerance Laws, for example, may have a positive impact on the number of drunk driving episodes.

Despite the fact that there is no place in the United States where drinking and driving is legal, this is something that millions of Americans are doing every year. While some are getting away with it, others are caught by authorities and find themselves in hot water with the law. In the event that a person is charged with DUI, he or she has the right to consult an attorney who can explain how the law works.

Source: Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), "Drunk Driving by the Numbers" Matthew Chambers, Mindy Liu, and Chip Moore, Aug. 14, 2014