NHTSA 05-06
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Contact: Ellen Martin
Tel.: (202) 366-9550
U.S. DOT Releases 2005 Data on Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities;
State, National Statistics Underscore Severity of Drunk Driving Problem
Massive New Advertising Blitz & Enforcement Crackdown Begin This Week
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration today released new state-by-state and national data for 2005
showing that alcohol-impaired driving remains an extremely severe problem. Last
year alone, there were 16,885 alcohol-related fatalities in traffic crashes, a
figure nearly unchanged during the last decade.
Also today, Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino announced that the
Department was launching a massive media and enforcement crackdown through Labor
Day to include thousands of police agencies throughout the U.S. to deal with the
problem of drunk driving. She added that the Department is investing $11 million
in a new campaign, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under
Arrest,” which will be the largest advertising blitz ever used to combat drunk
driving.
“Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes,” said Maria Cino, Acting
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Our message is simple: if
you drive drunk, you will be arrested.”
The drunk driving data provides new details that will help police and NHTSA
tackle the problem, Acting Secretary Cino said. She noted that in 2005, fully 39
percent of all traffic deaths involved alcohol. However, she did add that 23
states and Puerto Rico showed a decrease in the number of alcohol-related
fatalities between 2004 and 2005.
“Alcohol and automobiles are a lethal combination,” said NHTSA Administrator
Nicole Nason. “That is why we are working closely with our law enforcement and
national advocacy partners to get even tougher on drunk drivers.”
The new TV, radio and web ads, in both English and Spanish, will run nationally
on programs viewed primarily by 21- to 34-year-old males. According to the data
released today, the highest percentage of drivers in alcohol-related fatal
crashes was for male drivers ages 21 to 34 (33 percent), followed by males age
35 to 44 (25 percent).
Acting Secretary Cino announced the enforcement crackdown during a visit to a
police and fire training academy in Rockville, Maryland. She was joined by NHTSA
Administrator Nason; U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty; MADD
President Glynn Birch; Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Chairman Lt.
Colonel Jim Champagne; and Colonel Thomas (Tim) Hutchins,
Secretary/Superintendent Maryland Department of States Police and a
representative of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
NHTSA’s new statistical report on alcohol-related fatalities is drawn from the
agency’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). To view the data, please
visit http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2006/810644.pdf
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Briefing Room
