U.S. DWI fatalities hit all time low since data was first collected by MADD 30 years ago

From Injury Board blog:

New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that drunk driving deaths dropped to their lowest level since MADD has been tracking the data.

The number of fatalities in 2009, 10,839, represents a 7% decrease from 2008.

MADD was founded 30 years ago, at which time the number of fatalities was twice as high as the 2009 number. MADD started its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving four years ago, and the number of deaths from drunk driving declined by 20% since that campain began. However, close to 11,000 deaths is still way too high, so we must all continue to promote better awareness.

Just think about how much better educated our children are about the dangers of drinking and driving than young adults were in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's.

There have been DWI deaths in Genesee County recently in Oakfield.

GCASA runs a Victim Impact Panel every month for offenders from Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming counties. It is usually attended by 35 -50 people monthly.

Even though deaths are down, there is still a problem locally and nationally. 11,000 DWI deaths a year is nothing for us to brag about.  By way of comparison, there were 3,000 on 9/11.