Message Monday - Take a shot at drunk driving, you'll get a chaser
Over the years you’ve probably seen dozens, if not hundreds or even thousands of messages reminding you that it is dangerous to get behind the wheel if you’re not sober. Many people have heeded these messages, and with ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, finding a safe ride home is easier than ever.
Yet, about one-third of the fatalities on Iowa highways are caused by an impaired driver. Why do you think drunk driving fatalities are still so high? That’s the million-dollar question. Could it be that younger drivers aren’t getting the message?
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, young drivers are at the highest risk to cause a fatal crash. Drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 cause 34 percent of all alcohol-impaired deaths. This age group is closely followed by the 25- to 34-year-olds, who cause 30 percent of alcohol-impaired deaths, and then the 35- to 44-year-olds, who cause 25 percent of these fatal accidents.
If you feel different, you drive different - https://youtu.be/qokewrknyw4
For 2019, there have been 10 fatalities reported. That’s an increase of one since last Monday. The 2018 fatality count stands at 319. This is subject to change as law enforcement reports are completed. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf