WASHINGTON - Drunken-driving deaths fell in 32 states in 2007, the government reported Thursday, but alcohol-related fatalities increased among motorcycle riders in half the states.
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Nearly 13,000 people were killed in crashes in which the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08, the legal limit in the United States, or at higher levels.
Overall, alcohol deaths were down nearly 4 percent compared with 2006, when nearly 13,500 people died on the highway. Oklahoma was on of the states in which deaths increased.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said she was disappointed by the increase in deaths involving drunk motorcycle riders. A total of 1,621 motorcyclists were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2007, an increase of 7.5 percent.
Motorcycle riders have been featured in the government's $13 million advertising campaign surrounding the Labor Day holiday. Law enforcement agencies are increasing their enforcement against drunken driving during the end of the summer.
Dean Thompson, a spokesman for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, said riders who conduct training courses always stress the dangers involved in drinking alcohol before riding.
"The skill set you need in terms of the coordination and balance and things like that, you cannot choose to drink and ride. It's just the wrong choice to make," he said.
Among the states, California had 117 fewer alcohol-impaired driving deaths last year, the largest decrease in the nation. Texas had 108 fewer deaths and Arizona's fatalities dropped by 63 deaths.
California conducted more than 1,000 sobriety checkpoints during the year and encouraged motorists to dial 911 on their cell phones if they spot a potentially drunken driver, said Christopher Murphy, who leads the state's traffic safety office.
"Our vision is really toward zero deaths — everyone counts, so we're not exactly celebrating these numbers," said Murphy, who leads the Governors Highway Safety Association.
North Carolina had 66 more deaths, the most among states, followed by South Carolina with 44 fatalities.
In addition to North Carolina and South Carolina, alcohol-impaired deaths increased in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
The latest data followed calls from dozens of college presidents to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, arguing that the laws lead to binge drinking on campus.
Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said Thursday he opposed the administrators' effort.
"Age 21 drinking laws have been proven time and again effective in preventing deaths and injuries," Rosenker said. "Repealing them is a terrible idea."
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32 states are getting with the program...typically though, Okie is lagging once again....considering all the 3.2 beer in this state, either people get drunk really easily here or they drink enough to float a battleship....
I know there's some bad cops, but good ones too. If one's in a domestic dispute & 9-1-1 is called, when the find out it's a cop's home, they'll just drive by & that's it. They won't stop! I know. Trust me on this one. Cops can throw some wild parties. Very true. The city needs to be more worried about people & quit playing politics. Sounds like we need to vote in more competent leaders & get more honest people voted in.
Chris, my father was a police officer and was an alcoholic. The wildest parties I ever attended were parties thrown by cops. You would not believe how much drinking went on and how many of those guys left absolutely blitzed and drove home. I have also heard story after story about numerous politicians pulled over that were drunk that were just taken home instead of arrested because the officer knew if he arrested the politician he would be patrolling the streets for the rest of his days. I promise you I am not making this up. Until you have been on the inside, you just wouldn't believe what goes on.
One frequent complaint I have is in regards to the local city prosecution of drunk drivers that keeps recidivism so high. Case in point is the City of Edmond. It has a nice jail facility and it likes to keep it full at all times. Its like a high priced hotel. Edmond receives a minimum of $1000 for every DUI it processes. Edmond has no intention of turning any drunk drivers over to a court of record. So when my relative was killed in Edmond, the drunk driver had 8 prior Edmond convictions. Edmond did little or nothing about each violation except to give him probation and a $1000 fine each time. Had at least one violation been sent to county court, it would have made a difference because they could have filed it for a felony or first degree misdemeanor. Edmond is not alone as many small towns like McAlester do the same thing. There's gold in those shiny bottles and cans. Times were that Oklahoma City policemen enjoyed catching at least one drunk per shift. It took a lot of time and it counted for many production points in the production target. Oklahoma City changed the amount of points a drunk brings an officer and its not such an attractive catch anymore. If I had my preference I would rather that Oklahoma County Sheriff and any other sheriff process all DUI's. The OHP does it that way. It means better access to alcoholism programs and DUI schools. They suspend licenses and get drunks off the streets. Edmond wants that drunk back on the streets because its a sure bet that $1000 is headed their way.
Quick!! Somebody(everybody), go back to the main page, and place the cursor on the picture along with this article. The yokel hick who made up the caption actually stated that it's a "beer being drawed", rather than a "beer being drawn"....talk about a bunch of dumb uneducated hicks......
JJ, you had me until you freaked out and accused legislators & police of being drunk drivers. You're such a tool - you don't know when to stop. And mister...I hope you ride without a helmet.
Oklahoma is full of bikers , bumpkins and bible thumpers. I have never seen so much arrested development as among the over 30 biker set in Oklahoma. Combine their self styled " bad boy biker" arrogance , slower reactions times due to aging and alcohol and the only blessing is the fact that they usually on kill themselves.
Maybe if the legislature would get serious about ending drunk driving the numbers would fall. I am talking about a minimum of a felony for your first drunk driving conviction and permanent revocation of driving privledges (yes, driving is a privledge) upon a second drunk driving conviction as well as seizing the driver's vehicle and selling it with the proceeds going to a victim's fund for people who are injured or lose an immediate family member at the hands of a drunk driver. But I doubt any of this will ever happen since so many of the people in charge of writing the laws are also guilty of drinking and driving themselves. Also since so many law enforcement officers are also guilty of drinking and driving I bet we would have a hard time of having them enforce the law.
In Oklahoma2006
Total fatalities: 765
Alcohol impaired fatalities: 199 (26%)
Number of alcohol impaired fatalities on motorcycles: 17
2007
Total fatalities: 754
Alcohol impaired fatalities: 219 (29%)
Number of alcohol impaired fatalities on motorcycles: 23
2006 to 2007 change in number of fatalities: -11 (-1.4%)
2006 to 2007 change alcohol impaired driving fatalities: +20 (+10.1%)
2006 to 2007 change alcohol impaired fatalities on motorcycles: +6 (+35.3%)
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.