Maryland Sees a Decline in Fatal DUI Accidents

A new study shows that deadly  drunk driving crashes are down in the state of Maryland. The study also indicates that Maryland has one of the lowest DUI fatality rates in the country.

According to the study, the number of DUI fatalities decreased by 12.5 percent.  In 2008 there were 152 fatal DUI accidents in Maryland compared to 178 DUI fatalities the previous year.

Greg Shipley of the Maryland State Police said, "There are 24,000 DUI arrests in Maryland per year. That's 2,000 per month. That's 500 drunk drivers out there each week somewhere in the state of Maryland who got arrested."

The reason for the decline?  Police are crediting DUI education, alcohol treatment programs, and heavy police patrols.

But despite the recent decline, members of MADD (Mother Against Drunk Driving) want to remind people that the state still has a long way to go.

"We've got to be taking serious action and there have to be serious consequences when you commit this crime, so that we see that number drastically lowered," said Carolina Cash of MADD.  Cash reinforced that 152 deaths is still 152 deaths too many.

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