The 2008 Michigan Drunk Driving Audit shows declines across the state in alcohol-related crashes, injury crashes, injuries and overall arrests, but notes increases in crashes and deaths involving drugs.
Overall, fatalities resulting from alcohol and/or drug-related crashes decreased slightly from 381 in 2007 to 379 in 2008. However, traffic deaths involving drugs jumped 43 percent from 98 in 2007 to 140 in 2008. Some of this increase can be attributed to increased testing.
"A provision in Michigan's .08 BAC drunk driving law made driving with any trace of drugs such as heroin, marijuana or cocaine in a person's system illegal," said Colonel Peter C. Munoz, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP). "In response to that change, testing for these substances has increased."
The number of people injured in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs also declined last year, dropping from 7,159 in 2007 to 6,248 in 2008.
The Drunk Driving Audit, an annual report issued by the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center, includes arrest activity by law enforcement agency for each county, as well as crash, injury and fatality information by county. The report is a collaborative effort between the MSP and the Michigan Department of State.
"We're seeing progress on many fronts and that's great news," Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said. "But the need for public education and vigorous enforcement is as strong as ever. We will continue working with law enforcement and other safety advocates for the good of Michigan families."
In 2008, 47,251 alcohol and drug-related driving arrests were made, a drop of more than 2,600 from 2007. More than three times as many men as women were arrested for impaired driving offenses, with 35,508 men arrested compared to 11,743 women.
Of those arrests, 45,162 resulted in operating under the influence of liquor or impaired driving convictions. Some of these convictions may include arrests made in prior years.
The 2008 Drunk Driving Audit is available online. To view the entire report, visit www.michigan.gov/msp, then click on Publications, Forms & Statistics. Next, click Statistical Information and then choose Drunk Driving Audit.
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