Davis Law Group, P.S.

Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities Decrease in Washington State

Based on new compiled data from NHTSA, the amount of fatalities on U.S. roadways has decreased. In 2010, 32,885 people lost their lives on America’s roadways in motor vehicle accidents. Compared to 2009, the amount of deaths is 2.9 percent lower than compared to 33,883.

As for accidents involving alcohol-impaired-driving, the fatalities declined by 4.9 percent in 2010. Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in 2010 accounted for 31 percent of overall fatalities, which is slightly down from the 32 percent in 2009, 10,759 alcohol-impaired-driving deaths.

There were a total of 32 states that saw a decline in the amount of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, California and Florida had decreases of more than 100. There were sixteen states that saw an increase from 3 to 46 deaths.

Washington State and Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities

Throughout both 2009 and 2010, there were a total of 492 lives lost on Washington State roadways. In 2009, there were 207 fatalities from alcohol-impaired-driving. In 2010, there were 170. It was a 37 death decrease, down by 18 percent. Even though the number is down, Washington State is still looking to diminish this number. Between the work of Target Zero, law enforcement and MADD Washington, the state is working to make sure there are no more deaths from DUI. December is a very deadly month for motorist on U.S. roadways so we remind everyone to be responsible and respectful on the roadways. We hope to see another decrease in fatalities in 2011.