DUIs, distractions big problem on Maryland roads, police say

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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A newly released report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that despite 30 years of campaigning to alert drivers on the dangers of drunken driving, that 10 percent  of motorists in a recent nationwide poll admitted to having drank and drove over a four-week period.

The report, 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index, indicates that of 2,509 respondents, 9 percent said they had driven within the previous 30 days when they believed their blood-alcohol content was .08 percent or above, the legal threshold for drunken driving in all states and the District of Columbia.

Ragina Averella, spokeswoman for the Towson-based AAA-Mid Atlantic, said the poll was conducted from Oct. 27, 2007, though Jan. 10 in random sample phone surveys. The survey, which included Maryland respondents, was done in both English and Spanish and included adults 18 and over, Averaella said.

“When you look at the fact that every 13 minutes someone dies on roads in traffic that could have been prevented, you have to wonder where is the outrage,” she said.

Maryland State Police reported that 177 more people were arrested for impaired driving in 2007 than in 2006.

Maryland State Highway Administation spokeswoman Lora Rakowski said that in 2006, about 69 arrests a day were made involving people driving under the influence.

“With 24 jurisdictions that’s incredible,” said state police spokeswoman Elena Russo. “And those are just the ones who got caught.”

Rakowski added that AAA’s report is another grim reminder of the importance of  impaired driving prevention education. She said her agency has a number of campaigns and efforts under way, including a legislatively mandated task force from late last year aimed at combating DUIs and other distractions. 

To that end, “We simply don’t want any distractions because just one is too many,” said spokeswoman Pat Oladeinde, a spokeswoman for the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “You’d be surprised at all the crazy things people do while driving — including reading, shaving and putting on makeup.”

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com

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98 days ago: Underage drunken driving sentences to become harsher for Virginia teens

» 158 days ago: DUIs, distractions big problem on Maryland roads, police say «

496 days ago: Local groups warn teenagers against drinking and driving