Auto Club Study: Drunk-Driving Injuries and Deaths Increase: First Time In 14 Years

    LOS ANGELES--Dec. 14, 2001--California's drunk-driving crashes are up almost 5 percent after 14 years of steady declines, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California and data shows that young adult drivers are the major cause of the jump.
    While all age groups played a part in the statewide one-year increase, drivers aged 21 through 24 posted by far the greatest jump in involvement in alcohol-related crashes that caused injury or death, according to an Auto Club analysis of California Highway Patrol crash data for 1999 and 2000.
    The statewide increase in alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes was 4.6 percent between 1999 and 2000. Among those types of crashes involving 21- to 24-year-old drivers, the increase was 15.5 percent.
    In Los Angeles County, data show an even more pronounced increase overall of 7.6 percent. Among 21- to 24-year-old drivers in Los Angeles County, involvement in drunk-driving collisions increased 28.4 percent.
    "Whether the increase is a one-time occurrence or the start of a trend, our analysis shows the need to more effectively communicate the message about the tragic consequences of drinking and driving," said Thomas V. McKernan, the Auto Club's president and chief executive officer.
    "We are particularly concerned about getting out this message to young adults, whose involvement in drunk-driving crashes is disproportionately high."
    The Auto Club's new anti-drunk driving efforts this year include a television commercial airing this month to coincide with the holiday party season and a community education campaign at each of the Auto Club's 68 Southern California offices.
    To further spread the message on the state's highways, the California Department of Transportation is starting a DUI memorial program which will place highway signs paying tribute to drunk-driving victims at their families' request.
    "Even one death during the holidays because of drunken driving is a death too many," said Secretary Maria Contreras-Sweet of the State Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
    "The hope is that by repeating the dangers of drinking and driving, we will get our message through," she added.
    The CHP is also stepping up its campaign against drunk driving this holiday season by increasing the number of patrol officers this month, as well as conducting DUI checkpoints and dispatching its Impaired Drivers Task Force to seek out and arrest drunk drivers.
    "This is the season of joy and celebration and we want to keep it that way," said CHP Chief Jill Angel. "Please ensure the safety of your family and friends by being safe. Don't drink and drive, and make sure you and all occupants in your vehicle are buckled up."
    At a joint news conference today, McKernan and Contreras-Sweet said that alcohol education efforts also need to emphasize how just one or two drinks can impair driver abilities. Even drivers who have blood-alcohol levels below the legal limit can be impaired enough to cause a crash, they said.
    "We're not just targeting problem drinkers, but also so-called social drinkers," said Contreras-Sweet.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs.
    Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.

               ALCOHOL-RELATED FATAL AND INJURY CRASHES:
                              CALIFORNIA

Driver's Age     1991      1999       2000     % Change     % Change
                                               1991-1999    1999-2000

15-17             631       346        353       -45.2%        2.0%
18-20            3455      1678       1811       -51.4%        7.9%
21-24            6479      2819       3257       -56.5%       15.5%
25-34           12635      5269       5399       -58.3%        2.5%
35+             10440      7975       8091       -23.6%        1.5%
Total/a         33640     18087      18911       -46.2%        4.6%


               ALCOHOL-RELATED FATAL AND INJURY CRASHES:
                          LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Driver's Age    1991       1999     2000      % Change      % Change
                                              1991-1999     1999-2000

15-20/b         1033        376      378        -63.6%         0.5%
21-24           1860        648      832        -65.2%        28.4%
25-34           3679       1421     1481        -61.4%         4.2%
35+             2812       1897     1983        -32.5%         4.5%
Total/a         9384       4342     4674        -53.7%         7.6%


(a) Total number of crashes does not include crashes in which driver
    age was not specified, which generally represents between 3 and 4
    percent of all crashes.

(b) The age groups of 15-17 and 18-20 were combined in this chart to
    provide a more accurate statistical picture.