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How does South Dakota Perform on DUI?. South Dakota consistently ranks near the bottom in the US for DUI deaths and injuries The worst state for deaths of children It is possible DUI casualties on tribal lands are unreported by the state, toll may be even worse
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How does South Dakota Perform on DUI? South Dakota consistently ranks near the bottom in the US for DUI deaths and injuries The worst state for deaths of children It is possible DUI casualties on tribal lands are unreported by the state, toll may be even worse The state made impressive gains in the mid-2000s, but then progress stopped! Federal grant money ran out and somebody pulled the plug on vigorous enforcement! Why, Why, Why victims ask? Every picture tells a story…
South Dakota DUI 2001 vs 2013 Comparison [All data in tables and charts from Source: SD Motor Vehicle Crash Summary for years 2007, 2013, https://dps.sd.gov/enforcement/accident_records/Annual_Crash_Reports.aspx.] • At first glance, it would appear things are “better” now than in 2001, which is true. • But progress has definitively stalled…
South Dakota DUI Crashes 2001 - 2013 Actual trend flat-lines starting in 2007 Had the mid-2000 trends continued, by 2013 there would have been only about half the DUI crashes as actually occurred. DUI Crashes are the best indication of “DUI Incidence”
South Dakota DUI Fatalities 2001 - 2013 The trend flat-lines starting in 2008 If DUI deaths followed the mid-2000 DUI crash trends, there would have been half the number of deaths in 2013. Fatalities are heavily influenced by safer cars (e.g., air bags) and better trauma care
South Dakota DUI Injuries 2001 - 2013 Actual trend flat-lines starting in 2007 Had DUI injuries also followed the mid-2000 DUI crash trends, there would have been hundreds fewer injuries by 2013. Injuries are also influenced by safer cars
South Dakota DUI Risk 2001 - 2013 Actual trend flat-lines starting in 2007 DUI risk would also have been cut in half by 2013 if the mid-2000 DUI crash trends continued. DUI Risk is the probability of being killed or injured in a DUI crash. South Dakotans have a 1-in-12 chance or 8% lifetime risk of being a DUI casualty
South Dakota DUI Arrests and Convictions 2001 - 2013 Arrests collapse from 11,756 in 2007 to only 8,683 in 2013 Actual trend flat-lines starting in 2007 Convictions DUI risk would also have been cut in half by 2013 if the mid-2000 DUI crash trends continued. DUI arrests drop to early 2000 levels when federal grant end. Why didn’t the state continue funding vigorous enforcement?
Commentary on Trends As parents of a DUI victim we wonder: Would Ron Fischer have been caught driving drunk before he killed two people? Would Maegan have died if the state simply kept up the efforts of the mid-2000s? There would have been half as many deaths and injuries. The state made impressive gains in the mid-2000s, but then progress stopped! Somebody or a group made a decision to pull the plug. Why, Why, Why victims ask? Scores of deaths and hundreds of needless injuries would have been avoided What is Governor Daugaard’s answer? See our Mitchell Daily Republic commentary, February 28, 2014