Fewer people dying in alcohol-related crashes

06:44 PM CDT on Monday, September 12, 2005

By AMY JOHNSTON / KVUE News

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on drunk drivers for years. Now, it appears the efforts are paying off.

Compared to just two years ago, fewer people are dying on Texas roads in alcohol-related crashes. Those statistics come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Drunk driving fatalities are down. Between 2003 and 2004, alcohol-related traffic deaths fell by 7.3 percent - which translates to 129 fewer fatalities. When you add that to the six percent between 2002 and 2003, alcohol related traffic fatalities have fallen by 13 percent," said Carlos Lopez, Texas Department of Transportation.

Despite the decrease, Texas still leads the country in the number of traffic fatalities.

In Travis County, the drop was even more significant. In 2002, 19 cases were filed for intoxication manslaughter. In 2004, 9 cases were filed for intoxication manslaughter. Law enforcement officials attribute much of the drop in those numbers to enforcement.

Also noted Monday was the issue of seatbelts. According to TXDOT officials, about 90 percent of people are wearing their seatbelts.