Drinking & Driving Statistics 2009: Arrests Highest on Year End

Drinking and driving arrests is at the highest during the final weeks of the year. Last week alone, more than 1,400 people were arrested in LA for DUI. Traffic patrols are intensified and checkpoints are more frequent than ever, precisely because many drivers try to go home buzzed from Christmas and new year parties.

Wendy Soos from the California Avoid program, said, "With all the Christmas parties and holiday office parties going on, a lot of people are out drinking and driving. It's amazing how the stats go up around Christmas."

The intensified crackdown will continue until the New Year's holiday weekend. Last year, 400 arrests were made on New Year.

The total number of drunk driving deaths this year has reached 11,600 in the US, according to AlcoholAlert. While the total and fatality number related to drunk driving has steadily decreased over the years, the number remain high.