The Deadliest Drunk-Driving States

[eric&gen 0]

Progress in eliminating drunk driving and related fatalities has been difficult in recent years. In 1982 the number of people killed in car crashes was 43,945, and 60% of those, or 26,173, lost their lives in accidents in which at least one of the drivers was impaired by alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The number and rate of alcohol-related fatalities declined steadily until 1997, when 16,711 people died in drunk-driving accidents, or 40% of all auto accident fatalities.

However, since then, the rate has hovered right around 40%, despite the efforts of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and even responsible-drinking campaigns from alcohol purveyors like Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, Brown-Foreman, and Constellation Brands. Last year, 38.87% of traffic fatalities nationwide were caused by drunk driving, compared with 39.15% in 2004.

An Ounce of Prevention

Dr. Thomas Esposito, co-chairperson of END, recommended that doctors and other health-care workers take a larger role in identifying patients with alcohol abuse problems, then intervening before they get behind the wheel of car. The screening process recommended by the group involves asking patients a few questions about drinking habits and consumption, and counseling those who respond positively to one or more of the questions. He said studies have determined that 5- to 15-minute counseling sessions have proven effective in decreasing consumption among at-risk drinkers.

The group also recommends that states consider increasing the penalty for motorists who refuse to submit to a sobriety test; raising fines for first-time and repeat offenders; and long prison sentences for those convicted of drunk driving and vehicle forfeiture.

The state with the lowest alcohol-related fatality rate proves the advantages of beefing up legal oversight of drinking. In Utah, where the drinking laws are the strictest in the nation (it is illegal to get drunk "to a degree that the person may endanger himself or another" in Utah), only 13.12% of fatal car accidents involved alcohol last year. That's half the rate of the next lowest state, Iowa, at 26.22%.

[JelloShotGirl 0]

Suffolk county long island....highest rate of drunk driving deaths.......at least used to be ....home of the Long Island Iced Tea, be careful guys...have a safe new year!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wasn't it Montana that had the worst incidences of drink driving? Up until a couple of years ago it was legal to drive while chugging a can of beer.

[Hornet 2]

Suffolk county long island....highest rate of drunk driving deaths.......at least used to be ....home of the Long Island Iced Tea, be careful guys...have a safe new year!

Is that Ted Kennedy's hang out?? lol

"Don't worry I can make it over that briiiiiiidggeeeeee"

[heishe 2]

We need to encourage sober drivers to crash more and get those drunk driving percentages down!

[sparkofcreation 0]

You know, I find it hilarious that people think the best idea to deter people from doing something is to increase the penalty for it. Because no one has the slightest clue what the penalty for anything is. Go ahead, tell me what the maximum penalty is for drunk driving in your state. And for reckless endangerment? And for vehicular assault? And vehicular homicide?

I bet you don't know. And if you don't know, why on Earth would it be a deterrent if the penalty were increased? Now, maybe a campaign to let people know what the penalties are would help. Although I suspect that most people don't say, "I'm drunk, but I'm only facing a year's license suspension, so I'll drive anyway." No, they say "I'm not drunk enough that I shouldn't drive." So if you don't think you're drunk enough that you shouldn't drive, why would you care what the penalty would be if you were that drunk? Because you're not that drunk.

Oh, and perhaps the fact that most of Utah's population is Mormon and therefore doesn't drink alcohol at all is what accounts for the low number of drunk-driving fatalities, not the strictness of their laws.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Wasn't it Montana that had the worst incidences of drink driving? Up until a couple of years ago it was legal to drive while chugging a can of beer.

Not entirely surprising given MT's rather light interstate traffic (I have driven through that state).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You know, I find it hilarious that people think the best idea to deter people from doing something is to increase the penalty for it. Because no one has the slightest clue what the penalty for anything is. Go ahead, tell me what the maximum penalty is for drunk driving in your state. And for reckless endangerment? And for vehicular assault? And vehicular homicide?

I bet you don't know. And if you don't know, why on Earth would it be a deterrent if the penalty were increased? Now, maybe a campaign to let people know what the penalties are would help. Although I suspect that most people don't say, "I'm drunk, but I'm only facing a year's license suspension, so I'll drive anyway." No, they say "I'm not drunk enough that I shouldn't drive." So if you don't think you're drunk enough that you shouldn't drive, why would you care what the penalty would be if you were that drunk? Because you're not that drunk.

Oh, and perhaps the fact that most of Utah's population is Mormon and therefore doesn't drink alcohol at all is what accounts for the low number of drunk-driving fatalities, not the strictness of their laws.

Good point. I suspect there are the habitual drunks who get behind the wheel and there are those who occasionally go to a social function or restaurant and have more to drink than they are aware of. I think restaurant and bars should take more responsability to be aware of how many drinks a patron has ordered, offer taxi service for patrons, etc. Depending on how long someone has been at the restaurant and over how much time they consumed the alcohol makes all difference whether they become legally drunk or not.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Oh, and perhaps the fact that most of Utah's population is Mormon and therefore doesn't drink alcohol at all is what accounts for the low number of drunk-driving fatalities, not the strictness of their laws.

Exactly!