It appears that drunk driving rates are on the decline in Mississippi, and the police attribute it to their own efforts to enforce safety-related laws all over the state. They described the findings as “rewarding” and said that, to them, nothing was more important than keeping people safe.
The report they were talking about claimed that Mississippi was No. 4 overall when looking at the biggest decreases in fatal DUI accidents. The total fell by 50.99%. Local news stations called this drop stunning.
The police said that they were working hard with an educational approach, trying to talk to drivers about drunk driving and giving them other options. They know that drinking happens, so they want people to use designated drivers, take taxis or use ride-sharing services like Uber.
One thing that is interesting to note is that this decline was not in DUI arrests or even car accident totals, but just in fatal accidents linked to alcohol. It would be intriguing to see if the drop was mirrored in arrests and accidents, showing an actual decline in drunk driving, or if more people simply lived through these car accidents in Mississippi than in previous years. Fatality statistics are important, but they are not the only stats that help paint a picture of what drunk driving habits look like in the state.
It is clear that this is an area of focus for the police, though, judging by their comments, and drivers need to be aware that the ramifications of a DUI are nothing to take lightly. Those accused must know what legal options and rights they have.