Good News on DUI Deaths

New stats out from the Department of Public Safety show Minnesota is doing remarkably well in the fight to decrease alcohol traffic fatalities. In fact, the 2010 figures released this month show that alcohol-related traffic deaths are the lowest they have ever been. With 131 killed in 2010 where alcohol was involved, it’s a drop of a fifth from five years back (166 in 2006).

Still, a hundred dead is nothing to shout about. It does show something is working however. The DPS puts it down to educational campaigns coupled with high visibility enforcement. Typically, law enforcement will plan spot checks and announce them before heavy drinking days – like holiday weekends.

The impaired driving coordinator (an ironic title) at the Office of Traffic Safety said, “Despite progress, it remains a source of frustration that this illegal and preventable driving behavior continues to haunt our highways.” And that’s the real problem. In spite of all we do, some small segment of the population will continue to drink and drive.

Overall, traffic fatalities in all categories are down. Significantly, the percentage of alcohol-related deaths is still the same as it has always been – about a third. The total number of fatalities for traffic accidents in 2010 was 411.

Government officials also credit harsher DWI sentencing and restrictions. With repeat offenders and first-timers who blow over 0.16, they are less likely to get their licenses back without passing some strict hurdles. DWI courts are cited as an important factor and the loss of driver’s licenses for a year also helps reduce repeats.

With the running average of 170 deaths a year dropped down to 131, we should be pleased that something is working. And there’s no reason we can’t get that number even lower. Zero would be nice.