Last year, the number of traffic fatalities fell to its lowest level in nearly 60 years. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, deaths fell to 33,808 in 2009, the lowest number of deaths since the department began collecting the data in 1950.
The number of alcohol-related fatalities also decreased from previous years. In 2009, the number of fatal accidents in which alcohol was a factor fell by 7.4 percent, down to 10,839 from 11,711 in 2008. The current rate is nearly half of the 1982 rate when there were over 20,000 alcohol related traffic fatalities.
The NHTSA director, David Strickland attributes these declines to seatbelt awareness campaigns and stronger anti-drunk driving programs in the states. New York also saw a seven percent decline in alcohol-related deaths, dropping to 321 deaths in 2009 from nearly 350 in 2008, according to the NHTSA.
Drunk Driving Fatalites Down But DWI Accident Numbers Don't Budge
Despite the nationwide progress in lowering deaths from drunk driving accidents, New York and Long Island, in particular, have not seen a corollary drop in the number of drunk driving accidents. In 2008 and 2009, the NHTSA statistics indicate that the percentage of alcohol-related accidents plateaued at 28 percent, even as the overall number of motor vehicle accidents declined. According to a Newsday report, the state numbers for alcohol-related accidents have stayed close to 30 percent for the past five years.
In an effort to combat drunk driving, New York passed some of the toughest laws in the country over the past decade. This includes a 2009 law that requires interlock ignition devices be installed on vehicles belonging to those arrested for DWI, even first time offenders. Newsday also notes that the Task Force on Impaired Driving was created two years ago to address the lack of progress, how DWI cases are prosecuted and handled in the system, and whether the new laws are having any effect on reducing the number of drunk driving accidents.
While the percentages remain constant, the penalties for driving while intoxicated remain severe. If you have been arrested on charges of drunk driving, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
