Oklahoma Drunk Driving Fatalities Dropped in 2009

Despite a steady increase over the four previous years, data compiled by McIntyre Law, P.C., shows a substantial drop in alcohol-related fatalities in Oklahoma from 2008 to 2009.

Alcohol-Related Fatalities in Oklahoma, 2005 - 2009

Drunk driving is a pervasive issue in the state, and we hope this report will demonstrate the need for stronger DUI prevention programs.

Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) December 23, 2010

McIntyre Law P.C., an Oklahoma injury law firm, recently compiled a report on drunk driving statistics that shows a substantial drop in DUI fatalities in Oklahoma from 2008 to 2009. The number of drunk driving accidents rose steadily between 2005 and 2008, so the overall change is a welcome one. However, some counties saw increases in drunk driving fatalities, with Oklahoma and Tulsa counties still having the highest number of fatalities during the time period covered by the report.

McIntyre Law created the report by drawing from statistics compiled by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO). With the help of in-depth maps and graphs, the report breaks down the instances of Oklahoma car accidents on a county-by-county basis. Both both long- and short-term trends were revealed.
Some of the report's key findings:

The number of Oklahoma drunk driving fatalities dropped from 266 in 2008 to 209 in 2009.
76% of drunk driving accidents resulting in fatalities occurred at night.
Oklahoma and Tulsa counties had the highest number of fatalities from 2005 to 2009, with 106 and 96, respectively.
McCurtain County had the highest fatality rate of 166.87 deaths per 100,000 residents, while Harmon County had zero drunk driving fatalities from 2005 to 2009.

In Oklahoma, drunk driving also causes the deaths of nearly five times as many men as women. While the overall number of drunk driving fatalities decreased during the last year covered by the report, the data collected for many counties shows a disturbing trend, particularly in Stephens County which had a 300% increase in fatalities from 2008 to 2009. It is McIntyre Law's hope that this report will help to increase awareness of the tragic consequences that result from drunk driving.

“As a personal injury law firm, we've seen firsthand the devastation caused by drunk driving, not just for the victims, but their family members as well” Noble McIntyre said. “McIntyre Law wishes to address the need for a higher level of drunk driving awareness in Oklahoma. Drunk driving is a pervasive issue in the state, and we hope this report will demonstrate the need for stronger DUI prevention programs."

McIntyre Law, P.C. serves Oklahomans who have suffered personal injuries as a result of the negligence of another. For more information on Oklahoma car accidents and alcohol-related fatalities of the past decade, visit http://www.oklahoma-law.com/ .

###