NTSB CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES BEFORE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL DRUNK DRIVING PROGRAMS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2007

SB-07-55


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NTSB CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES BEFORE U.S. SENATE 
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL DRUNK DRIVING PROGRAMS

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Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark 
V. Rosenker testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on 
Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, 
Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality that more needs to be done to 
get drunk drivers off our nations streets and highways.  He said that, 
"while alcohol-related fatalities have decreased since 1982, there has been 
little improvement in last 10 years."

In 2006, 17,602 persons were killed in alcohol-related crashes.  During his 
testimony on the Effectiveness of Federal Drunk Driving Programs, he 
highlighted the Safety Board's concerned about the accidents and fatalities 
involving hard-core drinking drivers.  

In 2000, the NTSB issued recommendations to all states aimed at hard 
core drinking drivers as a means to further reduce the toll on impaired 
drivers.  The Safety Board defines hard core drinking drivers, who are 
involved in about 54 percent of alcohol related fatalities, as individuals 
who drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 percent or 
greater, or who are arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) within 10 
years of a prior DWI arrest.  The Board's 11-element model program asks 
that all states take action to reduce these preventable crashes and deaths.
  
Currently, only California, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, and Virginia 
have implemented a sufficient number of elements to close this 
recommendation.  Action is needed in the remaining states.  

"The NTSB has worked for years with the states to reduce drinking and 
driving, and we've had success, but more needs to be done," Rosenker 
said.  "Impaired driving actions have been on our list of Most Wanted 
Safety Recommendations since its inception in 1990 and we have made 
recommendations for closing the loopholes in age 21 laws and enforcing 
those laws.  We also recommended zero alcohol tolerance laws for 
underage drivers." 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that, since 
1975, nearly 25,000 teen traffic deaths were been prevented by age 21 
laws.  However, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death 
for teenagers and alcohol remains the leading drug of choice for youth.  

"Studies have shown that lowering the legal drinking age will increase the 
consumption of alcohol and alcohol-related accidents by young drivers," 
said Rosenker.  "Why would we repeal or weaken laws that save lives?"   

The full text of Chairman Rosenker's speech can be found on the NTSB's 
website at the following link: 
http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/rosenker/mvr070905.htm.

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NTSN Media Contact:     Terry N. Williams
                                (202) 314-6100
                                williat@xxxxxxxx







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