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Seven-fold increase in DUI injuries
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Posted on Jan 11 2005
The first nine months of 2004 posted a seven-fold increase in the number of injuries sustained due to drunk and drugged driving when compared with the number recorded in the entire year of 2003, based on statistics provided by the Department of Public Safety.
Police spokesman Eric F. David said that, as of September 2004, a total of 56 injuries were classified as DUI related, compared with only 8 recorded in 2003—an increase of 600 percent.
David said that five of the injuries were classified as serious, two more than numbers recorded in 2003.
Statistics from October to December are still being compiled and results would be released at a later date.
David said, though, that DUI cases in December is expected to be low due to the implementation of the Designated Drivers Program under the Drunk and Drugged Driving campaign, as well as the many checkpoints conducted by the DPS Traffic Section.
3D chair Sgt. Sylvan Rangamar earlier explained that the DD program played a huge role in explaining why no fatal accidents were reported on December, serving many during the weekends of the recent holiday season and providing transportation home for intoxicated individuals.
The program began shortly after Thanksgiving Day and ended after New Year’s Day.
David said the DPS made 257 arrests relating to DUI from January to September 2004. In all of 2003, the DPS made 369 arrests.
Last year also saw an increase in traffic-related fatalities, with nine deaths recorded. David said that of the nine, seven involved alcohol.
In 2003, a total of eight fatalities were recorded, five of which involved alcohol.
Meanwhile, David said the Traffic Section conducted about 30 checkpoints in 2004 and 24 in 2003. Checkpoints were also conducted on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
So far, one fatality has already been recorded for 2005. A 33-year-old man was killed after his silver 1990 323 Mazda four door sedan slammed into a concrete wall and a power pole on Middle Road, Gualo Rai last Jan. 7. His passenger sustained serious injuries.
