Nearly half of fatal crashes in district involve alcohol
According to PennDOT’s statistics, alcohol is involved in about a third of all fatal crashes statewide. However, local numbers are even more sobering.
By PennDOT’s reckoning, alcohol is involved in almost half of all fatal crashes in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Jay Ofsanik, safety press officer for PennDOT’s District 12, said it’s hard to know for certain why the numbers are so much higher locally, but he noted the message is clear that drinking and driving should be avoided at all costs.
“It is important to draw attention to the problem and, hopefully, we can make 2002 (New Year’s Eve) safer than the last several years,” Ofsanik said.
Jacquie Fritts, executive director of the Fayette County Crime Victims’ Center and a representative for the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), said everyone should make sure they have a designated driver if they plan to party while ringing in 2003.
“We all want our family and friends to be here next year,” Fritts said.
As a part of the “tie one on” red ribbon campaign, red ribbons are distributed in October to remind people to drive sober. Fritts said that when someone decides to drink and drive and then has a crash, “it’s not an accident; it’s a choice you make when you get behind the wheel.”
She urged everyone to be responsible. Fritts said if everyone takes responsibility for their actions, then everyone contributes to making a big difference.
Having someone die because of a drunk driver is a terrible way to lose a loved one, she reminded.
Ofsanik stressed that it is important to realize that impairment begins with the very first drink. He asked everyone to be aware and plan ahead during the holiday season and issued the following tips.
– Drive sober.
– Designate a driver before you party.
– Don’t ride with a drunk driver.
– Observe safe driving habits.
– Buckle up every time you ride in a vehicle.
Regarding statistics in District 12 for the year 2000, the last year numbers were available, Ofsanik said there were 8,818 crashes resulting in 105 deaths. From that figure, 51 deaths were judged to be DUI-related, accounting for 49 percent of the total.
Overall for District 12, the total number of crashes held at a reasonably steady level from 1996 through 1999 and then increased by nearly 200 in between the years 1999 and 2000.
During that five-year time frame, the number of highway deaths in District 12 fluctuated from a low of 94 to a high of 117. However, during that entire time, the percentage of alcohol-related deaths remained higher than the state average in 2000, ranging from 39 to 50 percent during that time frame.
According to figures from PennDOT, the breakdown is as follows:
– In 1996 there were a total of 8,691 accidents including 1,593 in Fayette County; 425 in Greene County; 2,168 in Washington County and 4,505 in Westmoreland County. During 1996, 117 people died on District 12 highways, including 47 in alcohol related crashes. That translates into 40 percent of the total. Of the 25 Fayette County deaths, eight were alcohol related. That figure was four out of six in Greene; nine out of 28 in Washington and 26 out of 58 in Westmoreland.
– In 1997, there were 8,669 accidents with 1,598 in Fayette; 480 in Greene; 2,342 in Washington and 4,249 in Westmoreland. During 1997, 114 people died as a result of accidents on District 12 highways, including 45 in alcohol related crashes, for 39 percent of the total. Of the 28 deaths in Fayette, 16 were alcohol related. The figure was two out of five in Greene; nine out of 30 in Washington and 18 out of 51 in Westmoreland.
– In 1998, the breakdown of 8,442 accidents was 1,659 in Fayette; 496 in Greene; 2,276 in Washington and 4,011 in Westmoreland. During 1998, 106 deaths resulted from highway crashes and of that figure, 53 were alcohol related for 50 percent of the total. That figure breaks down to 22 out of 40 alcohol related deaths in Fayette; one out of five in Greene; seven out of 16 in Washington and 23 out of 45 in Westmoreland.
– In 1999, 8,665 accidents included 1,638 in Fayette; 493 in Greene; 2,319 in Washington and 4,215 in Westmoreland. During 1999, there were 94 deaths due to accidents in District 12 and of that figure 44 were alcohol related for 47 percent of the total. Six out of 19 were alcohol related in Fayette; two out of six in Greene; 14 out of 29 in Washington and 22 out of 40 in Westmoreland.
– In 2000, the 8,818 accidents included 1,688 in Fayette; 479 in Greene; 2,315 in Washington and 4,336 in Westmoreland. During 2000, 105 people died in crashes on District 12 highways including 51 in alcohol related crashes, accounting for 49 percent of the total. Nine out of 19 in Fayette were alcohol related, and three out of eight in Greene; 18 out of 30 in Washington and 21 out of 48 in Westmoreland.