Editorial: Those fighting DUI have earned credit

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

In light of recent encouraging statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is altogether appropriate to commend the work of Sandy Heverly of STOP DUI along with the work of Metro Police, legislators, prosecutors and judges and everyone else fighting against drunken driving in Southern Nevada. Heverly has been working for 20 years against this crime that causes so much tragedy for families. Over that same time, Metro Police has stepped up its enforcement programs, legislators have toughened laws and judges have handed out stiffer sentences. Heverly's goal of making it socially unacceptable to drink and drive is within sight.

The NHTSA released statistics for all states comparing the number of people killed in drunken-driving incidents to the amount of miles driven. The numbers show Nevada's improvement over the past 20 years, from 2.98 fatalities per 100 million miles driven to 0.73 -- a 76 percent improvement. Only Vermont, with an 80 percent improvement, did better. Nevertheless, Nevada's 0.73 rate still exceeds the national average, which is 0.63. There's much left to do, but for what has been accomplished we can all be grateful.