A recent AAA study shows most people believe men are more likely to get charged with driving under the influence than women. But that same study reveals the sobering truth. The number of men arrested for DUI is decreasing, while the number of women driving drunk is on the rise.

A new FBI study shows the number of women arrested for dui in 2010 went up 36%. The number of men decreased by 10%. While many people may be shocked, the statistics don't surprise Mary Cruel. She says she's seeing an increase in the number of women attending her DUI classes.

"There was a time when instructing a class there may be two females in a class of twenty-five. I would say over the last few years, maybe five years or so, that I see that trend moving up and the gap is closing," said DUI Evaluator, Mary Cruel.

The nationwide numbers are alarming, but it's not as bad in Bay County. County court records show about 80% of the people charged with DUI in 2010 were men, 20% were women. That was pretty consistent with the 2009 DUI arrests.

"Our figures do not match with what the AAA study has found with an increase in the female drivers. Our numbers are staying consistent from what we can see," said Maj. Tommy Ford with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Cruel believes the nationwide increase could have something to do with more equality in the workplace.

"The females earning power has increased so therefore, that whole sense of self-efficiency and independence has also increased. So now, often times, if a female is out, she's driving. She's not necessarily a passenger in the car with a male, she has her own car," said Cruel.

She also believes so-called "designer drinks"-- fruity, high alcohol, mixed drinks like hurricanes, hunch punch and long island iced tea, are playing a role in the increased numbers of women driving drunk.