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U.S. drunken driving deaths are down 2%

There were 865 fatalities in 2004 in Florida involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or above. That was down from 907 in 2003.

WASHINGTON - Alcohol-related fatalities declined slightly across the nation and fell in 32 states last year, traffic safety officials said Monday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a 2 percent decrease in fatal crashes in 2004 involving at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.

The government said 12,874 motorists died under those circumstances in 2004, compared with 13,096 in 2003. A blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is the threshold at which Florida law presumes that a person is unable to drive a motor vehicle safely; the 49 other states use that standard.

NHTSA said a record 11,500 law enforcement officials would participate in its annual campaign, called "You Drink & Drive. You Lose," which runs through Sept. 5. The campaign will be bolstered by $13.9-million in advertising.

Texas saw a 10 percent reduction in its alcohol-related fatalities, accounting for 141 fewer deaths than in 2003. Others making significant reductions included Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and the District of Columbia.

Kansas, which had a 29 percent decrease in alcohol-related fatalities in 2004, has targeted drunken driving through media campaigns, use of sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols during weekends and at special events.

Utah had an 81 percent increase in alcohol-related fatalities, representing 29 more deaths in 2004 compared with the previous year. Mark Panos, deputy director of the Utah Highway Safety Office, attributed some of the growth to an increase in the number of motorists on the road as its population expands.

Several Southern states, including Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee, also posted higher fatality numbers.

Glynn Birch, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said his organization was advising people to designate sober drivers before attending Labor Day gatherings.

"It's important to note that impairment begins with the first drink, so your safest choice is to use public transportation, take a cab or find a sober driver," Birch said.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 02:45:30]