I am not what defines "a problem" but yes, DUI driving is a concern. It is probably a safe assumption that all of us know about a family member, friend or associate who has either been stopped for DUI or is battling a drug or alcohol addition (and never stopped for DUI...alcohol or drug related). If you add to DUI drivers the number of folks who drive while texting or using a cell phone, we have a CRISIS. There are days when almost every driver I observe is either texting or driving while using their cell phone. Many time the cell caller will actually take their driving hand off the steering wheel to make hand gestures while talking! Finally, speeding and aggressive driving (tailgating, sharp lane switches etc.) is epidemic. The danger to other drivers exposed to this "mayhem" magnifies when oversized SUVs and trucks are involved. I do hope the eventual Brookhaven police department focus on the speeding and reckless driving on Peachtree from the DeKalb County sign by Lenox to I-285. Put the fear of G-d into drivers using that stretch of road to slow down and drop the texting and cell phone usage.

Ain't nothin' wrong with a little boozin' and cruizin'. Just kick the seat back, lean to the side, bob yo head and slow roll, G.....

OMG, people that have to drive long commutes are drinking and texting. The stress of traffic congestion in this city is way too high. Why can't we have more virtual jobs? Why do we have to agonize and sit in traffic for hours? That's the reason people drink and text. I am an avid bicycle rider working from my home/office. I see shards of glass from Vodka bottles and beer bottles being thrown from Highway 29 on the entrance road to the Little Creek Horse Farm. As I ride I hear honking from cars involved in road rage. The traffic and stress these people go through day after day is making them drink and text. Stop the madness, let's go virtual!!!!

I think Atlanta has a bad problem with Drunk Driving, and the reason is the Taxis are SO expensive, and their is no mass transit. The taxi business is a raquet here, 2 dollar flat rate per driver and the rates on the actual cab are insane. It's a $25 cab ride too and from my apartment to the bars, and MARTA is a joke! You want to fix the DUI problem, fix the public transportation and Taxi problem!

People won't take taxi's to and from work. But, you do have a valid point if people are partying and such they should have a designated driver or take a taxi. I was referring to daily commuting. People are fed up with traffic, get frustrated and pack a 6 pack of beer in the car or Vodka!! It's stressful having long commutes in this city. People resort to drinking!

I haven't had as much experience with people getting really stressed out from afternoon traffic and then pullin out the booze. I think the majority of drunk drivers come from people who were overserved at a bar or maybe at dinner and want to avoid the INSANE taxi fare. I mean, I just moved to the Brookhaven area, but has anyone ever seen a city with such expensive taxis and such poor public transportation?

Here is yet another aspect to the discussion...on page 2 of today's USA TODAY, "Texting, music listening put distracted pedestrians at risk." A study of 1,000 pedestrians in Seattle found 26% of pedestrians were crossing intersections while texting or listening to music where pedestrians had previously been run over by auto drivers. Connect the dots here....drivers likely DUI, texting or celling when striking the pedestrian? Wow, we've become a stressed out, distracted society.

Stress and boredom breeds a need for distractions IMHO. Whether it's alcohol or texting. May as well be drunk if texting. One is not aware of much going on around the car thus crashing. Pedestrians walking, same thing.

DUI and cellphone are the biggest problems in erractic and irresponsible driving. I do not drink and drive, but I have to admit that I have to do better on my phone use. I refuse to text and drive, but talking and driving does distract and effects response times.

Each person is responsible for him or herself as well as trying to keep others on the road safe. It is a full time job. There are other cars, pedestrians as well as bike riders. It really is a job that requires my full attention. The brain is not wired for multitasking.If I want a drink, I have one at home or we have a designated driver. I think we do have a problem with drivers who drink, text, talk on phones and engage in road rage.I think we owe it to ourselves and others to be responsible and civil. Marilyn.

If a texting driver is involved in accident he/she should be presumed to have been at fault. Furthermore, insurance companies should disclaim any claim - medical, damages, other - to offended party... Shall be liable to other claimants only.

Same for DUI.

Atlanta has a reputation as a drunk driving town. Everything is so spread out and public transportation is a joke. Crime is also a large problem. You don't want to walk home from the bar because there is a good chance you will get mugged. Until we deal with these issues it will continue to be a problem.

Atlanta biggest problem is not DUI's, get a life! It's the black thugs coming to Midtown and robbing people at gun point... APD should put a stamp on their forehead that reads "return to sender or Clayton County"!

You have a good point there. LOL! It's every where. I get email from the DeKalb Police Department showing me all crimes committed every 24 hours. Break in's, robbery at gun point and it's not getting any better since we are a welfare nation/Banana Republic now, no jobs. I know because my work is gone. I can't find a job either. You know who to thank for that!

Leah - Americas problem is that this president brings bad karma by having friends like such: Belafonte’s Advice to Obama: Imprison Opposition “Like a Third World Dictator” can you believe that guy said that?

Every city has a DUI problem, Atlanta included. Ditto using the phone in any capacity while driving.

One drunk driver is one too many. But everyone knows that drinking and driving is against the law. I agree that cell phone usage is perhaps even a bigger problem. If YOU are driving you should not be on the phone. Pull off to the side of the road if the call is that important. And TEXTING while driving should be illegal! The lack of personal responsibility in today's society will be its ruin. People should care more about others than their own immediate gratification. (And how did Obama come into this conversation?)

Texting and driving IS illegal, but very hard to enforce. Everyone knows drinking and driving is against the law, but they still do it. Why? Because there is absolutely NO alternative. And know whats sad? The $90,000 grant that the police are getting will do absolutely nothing. All they are doing is wasting tax-payers money so they can punish more tax-payers and generate revenue for a city that's in debt - and they don't even fix the real problem! Imagine the safe driving programs Brookhaven could implement for $90,000! This is an issue that really bothers me

Atlanta's DUI rate is probably average when it comes to per mile driven....its violent crime rate however is among the top in the nation. I'd much rather law enforcement resources be dedicated to reducing violent crime. Then again I guess it is much easier to bust 24 year old girls in Buckhead for one too many cosmos then it is to rid the city of gangs, thugs and vicious criminals

I think any city that does not have an affordable, reliable public transportation has a DUI problem, and Atlanta is one of those cities.

Atl Resident....you had to be drinking, texting and trying to call a taxi when you took the left turn with your black thugs in Midtown comment.

Low and Behold...so what's your point? Whatever you said appears to be delusional, misplaced and reeking of grandeur. One has to be brave to make pointless statements. That's weird.

TAXIS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE START REGULATING THAT OR PROVIDE SAFE RIDES!!

we should begin to execute people convicted of vehicular manslaughter with dui involved. we need to clean up the gene pool a little bit. if youre too stupid to figure out that you shouldnt drive drunk, you dont deserve to take up space in a modern society.

All I can say is; drink responsibly during this holiday season and get a designated driver if you are partying and plan on driving home. Have a safe holiday!
Cheers!

Yeah...because there were no accidents and people always drove so well before cell phones were common. <eyeroll>

It's amazing how some folks can drag national politics into *any* discussion. No manners at all...

Oh Vay! All are sressed about Obama re election, well so am I. Manchurian candidate.
I live one day at a time. Tinkering on recession. You bet, next year!

Some of the comments are scarier than the article.

SafeRide America is a local non-profit driver-for-hire service that drives you AND your car for you. For less than the cost of a round trip in a taxi. You can drive yourself to the bar and call SafeRide at 404-888-0887 30-minutes before you want to be picked up. We send a uniformed (black pants and vest, white shirt with tie,) professional driver to drive you home in the comfort of your own car. Proceeds from the service help kids that have been orphaned or injured in impaired driving accidents. Don't have any money to pay for SafeRide? No problem. We have a "pay us later" policy designed to eliminate money as an excuse to drive impaired. You can also volunteer with us to earn credit to pay for the service. We have been operating in Metro Atlanta for almost 13 years and currently provide over 200 SafeRides a week.. We are on call 7 days a week from 6 pm to 4 am. We accept Cash and all major credit cards.