DUI decline nets award

Twenty-five fewer deaths.

An aggressive effort to curb drunken driving in Utah has delivered unprecedented results — and the state will be honored Wednesday for its leadership in the war against drunken driving at an annual event to kick off National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

In 2003, Utah recorded its largest ever decrease in lives lost in alcohol-related crashes, and the National Commission Against Drunk Driving took immediate notice. The Beehive State will be honored with 10 other citizens, companies, and lawmakers from throughout the country gathered in Washington, D.C.

"It's a great honor for the entire state of Utah," said Utah Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Scott Duncan, who has been at the helm of aggressive DUI enforcement, and will accept the award with Utah Highway Safety Office Director Dave Beach.

The National Commission Against Drunk Driving is the successor to the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving formed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. Its current leaders also asked Duncan to give the keynote address.

In 2002, 71 Utahns died in alcohol-related crashes. One year later, the state reported 46 alcohol-related traffic deaths.

It was part luck, part mild winter, part hard work by police officers, lawmakers, victim advocate groups, prosecutors, insurance companies and the media, Duncan said. "But it's such a gigantic reduction, they called and asked us to talk about how it's working here," Duncan said.

"We're certainly very pleased and flattered that we are the state that was selected this year," said Beach. "When you look at the whole public information effort, public support, the Legislature, state and local law enforcement , plus all the information at community fairs, driver education classes. . . . The whole gamut has all lent itself to a point where its all coming together."

The state of Utah achieved the lowest percentage of alcohol-related highway deaths of any state in the United States from 1998 to 2003, according to an announcement Monday by the National Commission Against Drunken Driving.

The governor's office — first former Gov. Mike Leavitt, then successor Olene Walker — both supported tougher laws and penalties for drunken drivers. Last winter, Utah lawmakers tweaked the law to enhance penalties for adults driving under the influence of alcohol and children in the car.