Sadly, it is a fact that millions of people actually choose to drive an automobile while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Doing so not just puts one's life in danger and puts passengers at risk as well, but being caught driving while impaired (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will usually bring about serious penalties including driver's license suspension or cancellation, fines and in many cases incarceration. In many cases a person who has been found guilty of DUI or DWI ultimately has an underlying substance abuse challenge. The court system understands this, and it is therefore inclined to offer DUI and DWI Offenders drug and alcohol treatment instead of other severe penalties for his or her crime. Agreeing or obliging to take part in drug rehabilitation as a DUI/DWI Offender might not exactly completely get rid of other consequences of the crime, but tends to decrease the severity of such consequences to a large degree. Particularly if the person willingly participates drug and alcohol treatment and is also a first time offender. Research has shown that a large proportion of people who do receive drug and alcohol rehab because of a DUI/DWI offense avoid the court system for comparable charges later on.