Historic Drop in DUI Fatalities

New national figures released show a significant decline in the number of drunk driving-related fatalities occurring nationally and in 32 individual states, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced. However, the Secretary noted that the number of alcohol related fatalities among motorcyclists is climbing in half of the states.

“More drivers are getting the message that if you drink and drive, you will be caught, you will be arrested and you will go to jail,” said Secretary Peters. “But as good as this progress is, in this day and age there is simply no excuse for someone to drink and then drive.”

Secretary Peters noted that last year an estimated 12,998 people were killed in crashes where a vehicle operator had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. She said that represented a 3.7 percent decline from the 13,491 fatalities in 2006. However, figures showing that 25 states experienced an increase in the number of drunk motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes was disappointing, the Secretary said.

NHTSA’s new statistical report on 2007 alcohol-related fatalities is drawn from the agency’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and can be viewed here:

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