Every time Brendan Casey hits the road, he’s on the lookout for unsafe drivers.

"We take a multi-avenue approach to it and that’s worked over the years, but we have seen an increase in impaired drivers getting into accidents," said Casey, Orange County commissioner of emergency services.

Casey is also coordinator of the Orange County STOP DWI & Traffic Safety Program. Its preliminary data indicates an uptick in all traffic violations, from impaired driving to speeding, and DWI arrests in the county increased 17% from 2020 to 2021.


What You Need To Know

  • According to a U.S. Department of Transportation report on traffic fatalities, the U.S. experienced the largest six-month increase in traffic fatalities the first half of 2021

  • Approximately 20,000 people died in crashes during the first half of 2021, up 18.4% from 2020

  • Orange County's Stop DWI Traffic Safety Program reports many teen drivers are inexperienced and engage in unsafe driving practices like texting while driving and speeding

"When you talk to the medical examiner, a lot of what they see on autopsies is there's a mix in the bodies of people who are impaired. It's not just alcohol. It's not just marijuana. It's not just drugs. It's usually a combination of those things," Casey said.

According to a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) report, the U.S. experienced the largest six-month increase in traffic fatalities in the first half of 2021.

Approximately 20,000 people died in crashes in the first half of 2021, up 18.4% from 2020.

There were 36,096 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways in all of 2019, according to the U.S. DOT.

One of the biggest concerns is teen drivers who hit the roads with limited experience.

"It’s the law for parents to witness them doing 50 hours of supervised driving," said John Jones, administrator of the Stop DWI Traffic Safety Program. "An alarming amount of kids raise their hands and say I didn’t do all that."

Due to the pandemic, driver education courses Jones normally teaches came to a screeching halt, making it difficult to educate young drivers. He said he often sees teen drivers engaging in unsafe driving practices like texting while driving and speeding.

"Speeding is always one of the contributing factors and we're seeing speeds double and triple the speed limits," said Jones.

He said it's up to parents to make sure their kids have enough training, so they can keep themselves and other drivers safe on the roads.

"You are not doing justice to your child without giving them the proper education," said Jones.