Current Events in November 2025

• A new analysis links car brand ownership to DUI citation rates in America’s 50 largest cities.
• BMW, RAM, and Acura drivers top the list for DUI involvement, but regional culture shapes who gets caught.
• The findings suggest that drunk driving behavior is as much about identity and geography as it is about alcohol.

A new dataset from Suzuki Law Offices connects DUI citation rates across the 50 largest U.S. cities with vehicle brand ownership, revealing deep cultural and regional patterns that reflect not just road safety, but lifestyle, identity, and enforcement gaps.

The study found that car brand choice can serve as a proxy for risk behavior — one that varies dramatically across regions, and even within the same state.

The brands most linked to DUIs

Across all major metros, BMW, RAM, and Acura drivers lead DUI citation rates, with 3.09, 3.00, and 2.69 citations per 1,000 licensed drivers, respectively. But regional breakdowns reveal sharp contrasts:

At the other end of the scale, Mercury, Lincoln, and Land Rover drivers rank among the least likely to receive DUI citations—each under 0.8 per 1,000.

The implication: cultural and economic differences in how Americans use their vehicles play a major role in shaping DUI risk. Pickup-heavy states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida show strong correlations between RAM or Ford ownership and DUI incidence, while luxury import-heavy metros like California and New York see risk concentrated around leisure driving and nightlife districts.

Regional identity and risk

The data aligns with broader national research:

• Southern states report 37% higher binge drinking prevalence among male drivers than the national median (CDC, 2024).

• Western states show higher DUI arrest rates despite lower self-reported heavy drinking, suggesting stronger enforcement but riskier weekend behavior.

• The Midwest—especially Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Minnesota—leads in alcohol-involved crash fatalities (6.3 per 100,000 residents), even with widespread sobriety checkpoints.

Together, the numbers paint a picture of a drunk driving problem deeply intertwined with car culture, geography, and uneven enforcement.

When the vehicle reflects the driver

Certain car brands appear to mirror their owners’ psychology and usage patterns. Performance models such as BMW, Dodge Charger, and Infiniti show 42% higher DUI involvement relative to their registration share, while pickup trucks and SUVs dominate rural and suburban DUI crashes tied to longer travel distances and fewer rideshare options.

Luxury sedans and sports coupes, meanwhile, account for the bulk of urban nighttime arrests near entertainment zones.

Studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety back this up: vehicle type strongly correlates with speeding, night driving, and seatbelt neglect—behaviors that often accompany impaired driving.

Car brands and enforcement disparity

According to NHTSA’s 2024 Enforcement Trends Report, DUI patrol allocation varies sharply across regions—up to 40% fewer saturation patrols in suburban areas compared to urban cores.

That matters because vehicle types aren’t evenly distributed. RAM and GMC trucks make up 28% of suburban registrations, where patrol coverage lags, while BMW and Acura owners dominate metro centers where patrols are frequent but predictable.

As one highway safety researcher put it:

“We see DUIs cluster where enforcement can find them, not always where they’re happening.”

A cultural divide on four wheels

Cultural norms and local economies shape how and where DUI risks manifest:

• In oil and agricultural states, 53% of alcohol-related crashes occur on rural two-lane roads.

• In tech and entertainment hubs, 68% of DUI citations occur within five miles of nightlife zones.

• In college towns, compact car ownership correlates with underage DUI arrests, especially in Arizona, Colorado, and Ohio.

As Suzuki Law researchers summarize:

“Car brands can tell us as much about driving risk as income or age. They’re cultural signifiers of how, when, and why people drink—and how often they think they’ll get caught.”

Policy and liability implications

The legal and financial ripple effects are mounting:

• Insurers are incorporating vehicle-type DUI risk into pricing, adding up to 15% premium hikes for some brands.

• Fleet operators face growing exposure if company vehicles fall into high-risk categories.

• Courts in states such as Texas and Florida are factoring vehicle use patterns into civil negligence cases involving DUI injuries.

These trends suggest DUI liability is expanding beyond the driver—implicating corporations, insurers, and even community infrastructure.

The economic and social cost

Alcohol-impaired driving costs the U.S. about $44 billion a year, according to the CDC. But crash costs vary by vehicle type:

• Luxury car DUIs carry 32% higher repair costs than average.

• Pickup DUIs result in 15% higher property loss claims due to vehicle mass and impact force.

• In 2024, urban alcohol-involved crashes caused $6.7 billion in damages, concentrated in metros with heavy BMW and RAM ownership.

The takeaway

The kind of car Americans drive, the regions they live in, and the roads they use all combine to form a predictable geography of impairment.

Suzuki Law’s findings hint at the next frontier in DUI prevention—not just tougher laws or more patrols, but a deeper look at how car culture itself shapes risk.

How to protect yourself from impaired drivers

1. Spot the signs early.
Weaving between lanes, inconsistent speed, delayed reaction at lights, or drifting onto shoulders are classic indicators of impaired driving. Keep distance—at least five seconds of following time.

2. Avoid “closing the gap.”
If a driver appears erratic, do not try to pass or “teach them a lesson.” Pull back and let them move ahead. Many DUI-related crashes occur when sober drivers react aggressively or unpredictably.

3. Use route awareness.
Weekend nights, holidays, and early-morning commute hours after major events see spikes in DUI activity. Plan alternate routes that bypass nightlife zones, bar corridors, or major stadium exits.

4. Report dangerous behavior.
If you suspect an impaired driver, note the vehicle’s make, color, and direction. Pull over safely before calling 911. Law enforcement relies heavily on civilian reports for DUI interventions.

5. Reassess your own risks.
Fatigue, medications, and small amounts of alcohol all degrade reaction time. If you’re unsure, wait, hydrate, or use a rideshare. Even a low BAC can mean impaired judgment behind the wheel.

Bottom line:
DUI risk isn’t confined to one region or vehicle type—it’s everywhere. The best defense is distance, awareness, and restraint.

• Thousands of flights were canceled over the weekend as the FAA ordered airlines to slash schedules at 40 major airports.

• Air traffic controller shortages, fueled by the monthlong government shutdown, triggered widespread disruptions.

• Airlines warn the cuts could double by Friday, threatening Thanksgiving travel plans for millions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to cut 4 percent of flights at the nation’s 40 busiest airports, a move that caused thousands of cancellations over the weekend and signaled deeper trouble ahead for the air travel system. Officials say the restrictions, which began Friday, are necessary to maintain safety as air traffic controllers continue working without pay during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Staffing crisis hits major hubs

At one point Saturday, only four of 22 scheduled controllers reported for duty in Atlanta, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday on CNN. “It’s only going to get worse,” he warned. “By the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel reduced to a trickle.”

The FAA’s cuts are expected to grow to 10 percent by this Friday and possibly higher, threatening to paralyze the nation’s busiest airports just as the holiday travel season begins.

Airlines struggle to adapt

Carriers scrambled through the weekend to adjust their schedules, reroute crews and reposition aircraft, but cancellations mounted each day. “The degree of complexity increases for every flight we can’t operate,” said Steve Olson, JetBlue’s head of system operations and airports. “That means we may not have a crew or aircraft where it needs to be for the next flight.”

Major carriers take the biggest hit

According to aviation data firm Cirium, American Airlines canceled roughly 740 flights Friday and Saturday—more than 6.5 percent of its schedule. Delta canceled about 640 flights, or 7.3 percent, while United cut 450, or just over 5 percent.

By Sunday afternoon, more than 2,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, making it the year’s fourth-worst day for air travel disruptions. Delta alone canceled more than 14 percent of its schedule, while American and United each canceled over 9 percent.

More turbulence ahead

Delays also surged, affecting more than 8,300 flights as of Sunday afternoon. Analysts warn that the situation could worsen as airlines run out of options to reshuffle crews and aircraft.

For now, the FAA’s goal is to preserve safety amid mounting pressure on unpaid controllers—but with Thanksgiving fast approaching, passengers may need to brace for a chaotic holiday travel season.

Here are the key recommendations airlines are giving passengers who are worried about flight disruptions amidst the ongoing cancellations and cuts:

What airlines are advising

• Keep a close eye on your flight status via the airline app, website or alerts. Many carriers say they will automatically notify you if your flight is cancelled or changed. 

• Be ready to rebook or accept alternate travel arrangements without penalty. For example, some airlines will waive change or cancellation fees if flights are cancelled or you choose not to travel. 

• Know your refund rights: If your flight is cancelled and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a full refund (even for non-refundable fares) under U.S. law. 

• Consider booking with flexibility: Choose fares that allow changes or refunds, avoid non-changeable/basic fares if possible. Some travel experts suggest booking a backup flight on another airline if your trip is time-sensitive. 

• Arrive early at the airport, and prepare for longer delays or possible cancellation. Many recommend padding your schedule, especially if you have connections or a tight timeline. 

• Have a plan B: If flying looks risky for your schedule, consider alternate modes of transport (train, bus, car) or postponing non-urgent travel. 

Practical steps you should take now

• Check the status of your flight multiple times in the days/hours leading up to it.

• If you get a cancellation notice, contact your airline immediately (via app, phone or online) and secure a rebooking or refund.

• Save all receipts if you incur extra costs (hotel, meals, alternate transport)—some credit cards or travel insurance may cover this. 

• If your flight is cancelled and you decide not to travel, request the refund rather than only a credit.

• If possible, avoid bookings with tight connections, and try to book direct/non-stop flights. 

It's too bad about Windows 10. Millions of people loved it, or at least were more or less oblivious and probably remain so today, even though it has been declared officially obsolete by Microsoft. Although it's hard for computer nerds to understand, most consumers are about as interested in their operating system as they are in their water heater. Basically, if it works, that's pretty much the end of the story for them.

But while it's possible to just go merrily along ignoring the end of Windows 10, it's not really advisable. That's because Microsoft pronounced it dead on October 14 and is no longer issuing periodic updates, you know those things many people never bother to install. 

Like changing the oil in your car, you can ignore software updates for awhile but it's dangerous. The updates are issued to add protections against viruses and other nasty hazards that didn't exist when earlier versions of the software were written. Doing without is like locking some of the doors to your house but leaving others open. Not a good idea.

Technically, Windows 10 could run indefinitely if Microsoft would continue to support it, but it won't. And unfortunately, older computers often can't run Windows 11, its anointed successor. This leaves most consumers facing the expense and inconvenience of buying a new computer. 

There are some options but a little caution is advised. Poke around the web a little and you'll find articles advising you to switch to Linux, a free operating system that is battle-tested and runs most of the major web servers and many heavy-duty industrial applications. I have personally used Linux for decades and consider it by far the best system out there. It has many fervent fans who are always eager to convert new followers. 

But there is one big problem with Linux. Whether anyone will admit it or not, it's made by geeks for geeks and keeping it updated and running smoothly isn't for the computer novice. Oh sure, you can fix just about any problem that crops up but it may take an entire afternoon of researching obscure help forums and trying to navigate the command-line, the bare bones interface you see when all the pretty pictures go away.

Like a lot of experienced Linux users, I always have Linux fired up and standing by but these days I do most of my work on Macs, which you might call the Toyotas of the computer worlds. Just as gearheads call Toyota the car for people who don't care much about cars, Macs are computers for people who don't care much about computers. They just work, even if you don't much care for them.

In the past, I have talked acquaintances into switching to Linux and instantly regretted it. I really don't need to get phone calls at 10 p.m. because someone's printer suddenly stopped responding, so it's no longer something I freely recommend. But don't take my word for it. Read on!

What to do?

So what are the options?

An organization called PIRG has for years been advocating for "right to repair" rules for consumer goods, including computers. They are now organizing "Fix-a-thon" events where volunteers retrofit older computers, either through alternative software or hardware upgrade, so that they can run Windows 11.  

"For our “Fix-a-thon” events, we recruited 64 volunteers in six cities — New York, Boston, Cambridge, MA, Worcester, MA, Madison, WI and Chicago – to install alternative software on older computers, and otherwise refurbish and troubleshoot any issues, the group said in a recent update. "We partnered with local refurbishers and other groups to acquire computers and commenced a marathon of fixing and laptop rescue. All in all, our cross-country fixers rescued 103 computers. Most of these computers will be donated to various partner groups across the country, including youth groups and charitable nonprofits."

Partner organizations held similar events around the globe. In total, the Open Repair Alliance tracked 3,400 repair events during this year’s International Repair Day — 55% more than last year, PIRG said.

"While many older, Windows 10-compatible computers won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 11, there are ways of keeping these devices in use. One option is to install alternative software such as Ubuntu Linux, Linux Mint and Chrome OS Flex. These software options can keep older devices secure and usable," PIRG said. 

If you are still running Windows 10 and trying to decide what to do, PIRG has a useful guide that will walk you through the options. And don't take my bad-mouthing Linux as gospel. It's an excellent system but you need a person or organization to help you through the learning curve. 

Chrome OS 

An excellent but often overlooked option for consumers who mostly use their computer for web browsing is Chrome OS, the Linux-based system that powers the very cool little Chromebook laptops that cost a fraction of a full-fledged Windows or Mac model. There's also something called Chrome OS Flex, a free Google product you can install on just about any existing computer. It is very simple to use and, unlike the full-bore Linux, has excellent built-in support. 

The options

So here in the simplest form are your options if you are still running Windows 10 on an older computer:

1. Buy a new computer with Windows 11. Minimum cost: $600 or so for a very basic system.
2. Buy a fairly new used computer that will run Windows 11. Minimum cost: a few hundred for the computer and $139 to Microsoft for a Windows 11 license.
3. Grab a free copy of Ubuntu Linux, Mint Linux or other relatively easy to use Linux system. 
4. Give Chrome OS Flex a try. It's free and easy to use and has excellent built-in support. 
5. Buy a Chromebook. Prices start in the low few-hundreds. These are excellent little machines that are probably all anyone needs for personal use. 

Anyone of these options will work. For someone who isn't technically inclined and just needs to safely check email and browse the web, the Chromebook is the no-fuss, no-muss solution. It's easy to use, keeps itself updated and shouldn't ever cost you anything beyond the purchase price.