Drunk Driving Fatalities Decline in 32 States But Rise for Motorcyclists
National News • August 29, 2008
New national figures show a significant decline in the number of drunk driving-related fatalities occurring nationally and in 32 individual states, according to U.S. Secretary of Transportation ...
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Subject: DUI Propaganda
Posted On: September 2, 2008, 4:11 pm CDT
Posted By: Stephen Beck
Comment:
"DUI Fatalities Down Nationwide and in 32 States, Says U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters," declared the headline. "Announcement Comes as Federal, State and Local Governments Launch Massive Enforcement Crackdown and Advertising Blitz for Labor Day Weekend."
That's from a Dept. of Transportation press release dated August 28, 2008. The DOT propaganda was dutifully parroted in hundreds of newspapers and media outlets around the country.
The problem is, the DOT press release issued a half-truth, which is recklessly close to being a blatant lie. The unmentioned other half is that the number of traffic deaths overall declined to the lowest level since 1994. Americans are driving less - total Vehicle Miles Traveled also dropped. Less traveling means fewer traffic accidents. But those pertinent facts aren't in the press release or the AP story.
From 2006 to 2007, overall traffic deaths declined 3.9 percent. Within that total are "alcohol-related" fatalities, which dropped 3.7 percent. But Transportation Secretary Mary Peters yanked the 3.7 percent out of context and declared:
"But as good as this progress is, in this day and age there is simply no excuse for someone to drink and then drive," said Peters.
There has been no progress and in this day and age it is not illegal to drink then drive. Peters is playing the numbers to rationalize the "Massive Enforcement Crackdown" and the $13 million propaganda campaign euphemistically called the "Advertising Blitz."
Here's more much-needed context using NHTSA numbers from 2004: Of drivers in accidents, 127 thousandths of 1 percent (.127%) were drinkers involved in fatal accidents, and most of the deaths were the drinkers.
Get more info at http://www.dammdrinker.com
Subject: DUI Propaganda
That's from a Dept. of Transportation press release dated August 28, 2008. The DOT propaganda was dutifully parroted in hundreds of newspapers and media outlets around the country.
The problem is, the DOT press release issued a half-truth, which is recklessly close to being a blatant lie. The unmentioned other half is that the number of traffic deaths overall declined to the lowest level since 1994. Americans are driving less - total Vehicle Miles Traveled also dropped. Less traveling means fewer traffic accidents. But those pertinent facts aren't in the press release or the AP story.
From 2006 to 2007, overall traffic deaths declined 3.9 percent. Within that total are "alcohol-related" fatalities, which dropped 3.7 percent. But Transportation Secretary Mary Peters yanked the 3.7 percent out of context and declared:
"But as good as this progress is, in this day and age there is simply no excuse for someone to drink and then drive," said Peters.
There has been no progress and in this day and age it is not illegal to drink then drive. Peters is playing the numbers to rationalize the "Massive Enforcement Crackdown" and the $13 million propaganda campaign euphemistically called the "Advertising Blitz."
Here's more much-needed context using NHTSA numbers from 2004: Of drivers in accidents, 127 thousandths of 1 percent (.127%) were drinkers involved in fatal accidents, and most of the deaths were the drinkers.
Get more info at http://www.dammdrinker.com