MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — As the statewide DWI crackdown continues through Labor Day, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety released the final 2012 drunken driving report.
In 2012, there were 104 drunk driving deaths, which is down from 111 in 2011. But DPS officials say the declining trend could be reversed this year – crash deaths are on the rise in 2013.
“Impaired driving is a constant and scary factor that plagues our roads,” Donna Berger, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director, said. “But the problem can be addressed and the tragedies prevented if we all make the effort to take responsibility and make smart decisions.”
Other highlights of the report include:
• 28,418 motorists were arrested for DWI (an average of 78 DWIs per day). There were 29,257 arrests in 2011; 29,918 in 2010; 32,756 in 2009; 35,736 in 2008. The Twin Cities’ metro area and the 80-county Greater Minnesota each accounted for about one-half of all 2012 DWI arrests.
• 11,474 (40 percent) of these violators had at least one prior DWI. All repeat offenders arrested, and first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 or higher, are eligible to use ignition interlock to regain driving privileges and avoid at least one year without a license.
• Males accounted for 73 percent of all DWIs.
For more information on the report, check out the Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts 2012.
