Utah's DUI fatality rate is among lowest in U.S.

State averaged 1.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2005; average is 5.7
By Pat Reavy

Deseret Morning News
A new report from a nonprofit group funded by some of the nation's leading distillers says Utah has one of the lowest fatality rates due to drunken driving in the nation.
The report from the Century Council showed Utah had the lowest number of alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 per 100,000 residents. The state averaged 1.5 deaths from crashes involving alcohol per 100,000 residents. The national average was 5.7, with Montana having the highest number of deaths at 13.3 per 100,000 residents.
The actual number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Utah in 2005, the most recent year statistics were available, was 37. That's the fourth lowest in the nation behind the District of Columbia, Vermont and Alaska. The state with the largest number of alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 was California with 1,719. Florida and Texas also had more than 1,400 deaths each.
Utah also had just three alcohol-related fatalities involving people under 21 years old in 2005, the study showed. That tied the state for first along with the District of Columbia and Hawaii. Per 100,000 residents, that gave Utah a .3 alcohol-related traffic fatality rate, the lowest in the nation.


Utah Highway Patrol trooper Preston Raban credits his department and many others across the state for their efforts on curbing drinking. The report showed that not only was Utah's fatality rate low, but it continues to decrease.
"Everyone helped to make these numbers go down," he said.
From 2004 to 2005, Utah had the greatest percentage drop, 50.7 percent, of traffic fatalities involving alcohol and the third biggest drop in fatal accidents involving juveniles, according to the report.
Utah, according to the report, also had the biggest percent drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities form 1995 to 2005 for both adults and juveniles.
Nationwide, the Century Group said the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving juveniles in 2005 reached a record low.
The group says its report was compiled from information collected from several government-run databases including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.