Editorial: Getting drunks off roads

Monday, Aug. 21, 2006 | 7:21 a.m.

Twenty-six states, including Nevada, had an increase in alcohol-related traffic deaths between 2004 and 2005, according to federal statistics. In many cases the increases were high. Arizona had a 10 percent increase. Montana 18 percent. Delaware 29 percent. North Dakota 49 percent. Nevada's increase, 3.2 percent, was mild by comparison, yet any increase is unacceptable.

Nationally, 16,885 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2005, down a mere 0.02 percent from 2004. With so much that has been written and spoken about drinking and driving over the past 20 years, such accidents should be decreasing by several percentage points every year.

That they are not is the motivation behind a new campaign by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The campaign will focus its TV ads on male drivers aged 21 to 34. This demographic group has the highest statistics for fatal accidents while driving under the influence.

The campaign, which will last through Labor Day, goes beyond advertising. The administration, whose officials say they are "taking the gloves off on drunk driving," has also enlisted support from law enforcement agencies around the country.

We support this effort, and hope statistics for 2006 show a significant downward trend in DUIs for Nevada and the nation.