Fewer people are crashing and dying on
Kansas roads because of alcohol.
Preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Transportation
shows the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped 45
percent from 138 in 2010 to 76 in 2011. Alcohol-related accidents
dropped 12 percent to 2,463.
A traffic safety manager for the agency, Pete Bodyk, says it’s
too early to tell whether the drops are tied to a new law that
requires more people to install ignition interlock systems after
being convicted of drunken driving. Under the law that took effect
in July, even first-time offenders must have the systems. They keep
a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s
breath.