According to a recent survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 8 percent of all licensed drivers in the United States, as many as 17 million people, have driven drunk at least once during the past year. This data was released last week as the U.S. Department of Transportation kicked off its annual Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. campaign aimed at increasing DUI enforcement on U.S. roadways through the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The law enforcement campaign involves thousands of police agencies around the country and the agencies efforts are supported by nearly $13 million in television and radio advertising from NHTSA.

Survey results showed that nearly eight percent of respondents said they had driven a motor vehicle when their blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit at least once in the previous year. Additionally, the survey found that eight percent of the population, including 24 percent of males ages 21 to 24, reported riding with an impaired driver at least once in the past year. According to the NHTSA, 31 percent of fatal car crashes, or 10,684 accidents, involved an alcohol-impaired driver in 2008.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that few ages 16 to 20 admitted to driving drunk but did admit to drinking almost six alcoholic beverages in one sitting.

The survey was administered by telephone to 7,000 respondents 16 years or older and was conducted on a periodic basis to monitor the public's attitudes, knowledge, and self-reported behavior regarding drinking and driving.

Source: Bloomberg "Drunken Driving Admitted by Estimated 17 Million, U.S. Safety Agency Says" 08/25/2010