DUI deaths decline, but not for bikers
Associated Press
WASHINGTON » Drunken-driving deaths fell in 32 states in 2007, the government reported yesterday, but alcohol-related fatalities increased among motorcycle riders in half the states.
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.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said she was disappointed by the increase in deaths involving drunken 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.
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.
In Hawaii there were 45 total alcohol-impaired driving fatalities and nine drunken-driving deaths involving motorcycles last year. That compares with 60 and 11, respectively, in 2006.
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.