Drunk Driving Fatalities Up

According to federal transportation officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving deaths have increased in 22 states in the year 2006.

The 2006 statistics show that 13,470 drivers and motorcycle operators died with blood alcohol levels of .08% and higher.  The overall number of deaths that involved drivers (motor vehicles and motorcycles) with any amount of alcohol in their blood was 17,602 in 2006.

Though the number of people who died on US roadways actually decreased in 2006, the trend of people who died due to drunk driving increased.

The report shows that Arizona, Kansas, and Texas had the greatest increases of drunk driving death cases.  Utah, Kansas, and Iowa had the highest percentage increases.  Texas had the largest number of alcohol related deaths, with a total of 1,354.