Drunken driving laws need more attention

A troubling federal survey indicates that residents of Kansas and Missouri, compared to people in other states, face higher risks from drivers who’ve been drinking.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that slightly more than 21 percent of Kansas drivers surveyed said they had driven while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. The Missouri figure was 18 percent.

The survey queried adult drivers in 2004, 2005 and 2006. They were asked if they had driven under the influence in the past year.

The questions did not specifically refer to drunken driving, which in most states is considered driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent.

Because people self-reported their alcohol or drug use, federal officials say the percentages could be even higher than reported, with many drivers illegally intoxicated.

The findings show that states need to aggressively work to improve safety on the roads. They should:

-- Crack down on drunken driving with strict laws that discourage repeat offenses.
-- Fund prevention and treatment programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse.

-- Launch campaigns that encourage the use of designated drivers.

Even Utah, with the lowest percentage in the survey, had nearly 10 percent of drivers saying they drove while under the influence.

That’s frightening enough. But in some states it was considerably worse. In Wisconsin more than one-fourth of those surveyed reported that they had driven while under the influence.

North Dakota had nearly that many. Twelve states had percentages higher than Missouri.

Studies have found that drunken drivers are at least 13 percent more likely than sober ones to cause fatal crashes. However, even lower levels of alcohol can impair the ability to make safe decisions on the road.

Although alcohol-related traffic deaths have decreased in recent years due to the efforts of groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, this survey shows that states need to continue to focus on the problem.

Midwest Voices