California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

Alejandra Molina Register Writer

The number of drunken driving-caused deaths in California dropped to a record low of 791 last year, marking the largest single annual drop of DUI deaths in the past 14 years, according to a report.
According to the Office of Traffic Safety, figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that statewide, DUI deaths increased yearly from 1998 to 2005, but have decreased every year since 2005.

In California, the figures mirror the U.S. trend as DUI deaths have consistently dropped between 2006 and 2010. Last year, there were 791 reported DUI deaths here, compared with 924 in 2009.
Last year, OTS allocated $16.8 million in federal funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct 2,553 DUI checkpoints, up from the $11.7 million provided for 1,740 checkpoints in 2009.
The partnership between the California Highway Patrol and police departments to arrest impaired drivers also contributed to the reduction of DUI deaths, OTS said.

“Preventing these tragedies remains our top priority,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.