Friday, August 20, 2010

Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics.

WVXU reports a law enforcement crackdown in upcoming weeks on impaired driving.
"Cincinnati Police Captain Dan Gerard says in Cincinnati alone 35 percent of all the traffic fatalities last year involved an impaired driver."

Alcohol Alert gives us a handy chart that gives us raw numbers & semi related percentages of drunk driving related fatalities in Ohio since 1982. 1987 was a banner year for traffic fatalities overall and for DUI fatalities as well although percentage DUI fatalities were higher in '82 and while overall fatalities were matched in '89, the number of them involving impaired drivers was down. In fact the number of DUI related fatalities is way down. Unfortunately the overall number of fatalities has not seen as great a reduction. In fact, since 1982 when drunk driving fatalities were at their highest percentages at 60% sober fatalities have risen from 641 to 775 - or an increase of 20% while drunk driving fatalities have dropped off by more than half.
Does this mean sober drivers are getting worse? Drunk drivers are getting better? Should drivers be required a minimum before they get behind the wheel? Should local law enforcement be cracking down on sober drivers at insobriety checkpoints?
Actually to figure out such trends you would have to know the number of drivers in Ohio & that would e a guesstimate since people from out of state frequently are driving here. Of course, you have to note the percentages cited at Alcohol Alert is based on miles driven. Their note that Ohio counts alcohol related accidents differently than the Feds, who presumably rely on the states to compile their info, throws a whole 'nother wrench into the gears.
It's a good thing clown cars don't wreck or we'd have fatality rates in the ∞'s.

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