CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities down 72 percent in Montgomery
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: Montgomery County
Montgomery County (Map, News) - Montgomery County saw a nearly 72 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic deaths in 2005, according to a new report released Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Prince George’s also saw a double-digit drop in such deaths.
The report indicates that in crashes where the driver has a blood-alcohol level higher than the 0.08 legal limit, Montgomery saw a 71.9 percent decrease in deaths — down from 32 in ’04 to 9 in ’05. Prince George’s County saw a 27.5 percent decrease in fatalities, which went from 40 in ’04 to 29 in ’05.
And officials from both counties said the 2006 numbers are showing that trend should continue.
Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said his department made more than 4,000 arrests for drunk driving last year and may reach more than 5,000 this year.
“We are taking more aggressive efforts across the board to stop people from hurting themselves or others in making one giant mistake,” Manger said. “And we’re finding it’s working.”
The local statistics were good news considering the national rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities has remained nearly unchanged in the past decade. Alcohol was involved in 16,885 traffic deaths in 2005, down just a fraction of a percentage point from the 16,919 in 2004. Nearly 39 percent of all traffic deaths in 2005 involved alcohol, the study showed.
One national trend that is beginning to appear locally is that the average blood-alcohol levels of drivers being arrested for drunken driving is rising. Manger said he estimates the average blood-alcohol level of drivers arrested is .15 — nearly twice the legal limit — up significantly over past years. The study was released as the NHTSA kicks off an unprecedented $11 million national informational campaign aimed at stemming drunken driving. The ads, which began running on television, radio and the Internet on Wednesday night, are aimed the biggest offenders — males between 21 and 34 years old. The demographic is involved in nearly 33 percent of all alcohol-related traffic deaths.
Manger, a former Fairfax County police chief, said he does not see a trend in which drunk driving is most prevalent in a particular geographic area. Rather, he says, arrests are made in most urban and rural areas.
“Trust me, if we saw a trend we move on it,” Manger said. “It seems the problem does not discriminate.”
mrupert@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:01 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 25, 2008 re: "Two drown at Prettyboy Reservoir"
Report as inappropriate
1:34 PM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008
re: "Two drown at Prettyboy Reservoir"
Report as inappropriate
3:18 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 7, 2008
re: "Two killed, five injured in three-car crash"
Report as inappropriate
10:48 PM MST on Wed., Sep. 19, 2007
re: "Police recruit, two others die in weekend crashes"
Report as inappropriate
7:04 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 17, 2007
re: "Police recruit, two others die in weekend crashes"
Report as inappropriate
6:38 AM MST on Mon., Sep. 17, 2007
re: "Police say death was caused by ‘pedestrian error’"
Report as inappropriate
2:38 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "Police say death was caused by ‘pedestrian error’"
Report as inappropriate
12:05 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 28, 2007
re: "Officer struck by police cruiser dies at Trauma Center"
Report as inappropriate
1:34 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 27, 2007
re: "Officer struck by police cruiser dies at Trauma Center"
Report as inappropriate
1:20 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 24, 2007
re: "6-year-old boy dies during one-mile race"
Report as inappropriate
Interested Bistander said:
What happens if you only swim in the shallow part? do you still get in trouble?
1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
said:
I MISS YOU ADAM KLANK!!!!! A WHOLE LOT!
3 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I Miss You Ahmad, Friend, Mentor.
3 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Please confirm that this article is correct. A close source to the deceased says findings are that the motorcyclist is not the one who ran the light. An unlicensed ambulance driver was the one who ran the light. If you find these facts to be true please do a follow up article to retract the statement that the motorcyclist was the negligent driver. Thank you.
304 agree | 303 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
There was no before, there will be no after, there is only the here and now so live well and prosper. And be careful. Peace! out.......................
309 agree | 300 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
James said:
The woman stepped off of a curb into the roadway where she was struck by the car being driven by the 18 year-old. What was the driver of the car supposed to have done? Why would the driver be charged if the woman stepped in front of her vehicle? Get a grip.
316 agree | 337 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
why wasnt the 18 year old woman who ran over the pedestrian charged? Bet she was a hot blond wearing a short summer skirt!!!
463 agree | 390 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Police work is respectable. we must remember however that police are human. that is to say, all police are not respectable. the profession, yes the person, maybe. abuse of authority is one the most awful perversions. this is a case of an officer being killed by another officer. accidental probably. police put their life in jeopardy everyday. sometimes warranted. like any other profession, you need to work smart, unlike other professions, your very life depends upon it. serve and protect. admirable goals. 24 years of age, a very short life. killed pursuing a suspect for reckless driving. yet killed by another reckless driver, his partner. does the means justify the end. you cannot value a life so the answer is no. no job, suspect or goal is worth anyone's life. it is tragic that anyone trying to save a life loses his own in a vain effort. a case of friendly fire. i can not stress enough, police are people too and they need to recognize that point. all men have flaws.
752 agree | 463 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
so sad that's my teacher's brother!
434 agree | 430 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
On Wednesday April 18, 2007 my wife and I witnessed an incident that reminded us about the true meaning of each day we are alive. As many of you now know, a six year old boy passed away soon after collapsing at Westminster’s Main Street Mile. Reading about this incident or hearing about it for the first time will affect everyone differently, but I can attest that when you actually witness a child’s death, its impact is far different than just reading it in the newspaper - something I never fully appreciated until April 18th. Reflecting on such dreadfully tragedy, I wanted to share some thoughts. First, as a parent, I believe that kids should become our life, and if they are not, you will someday come to regret it. Second, be there for your kids! And I mean truly BE THERE, because each passing moment may be the last time you have a chance to say ‘I Love you,’ words that should already be a part of your vocabulary. Third, at some point we all have felt guilty about how we have beh
405 agree | 416 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree