NYE Alcohol-Related Road Deaths Are Down In Minn

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Department of Public Safety says there's been a drop in alcohol-related deaths and injuries on Minnesota's roads during the New Year's holiday over the last decade.

Alcohol contributed to nine of the 23 deaths on New Year's Eve and Day between 2001 and 2006. But from 2006 until 2011, there was a 30 percent reduction, with two of the 13 deaths being alcohol related.

For serious injuries, 28 of 58 were alcohol related from 2001 to 2006 and only nine of the 33 from 2006 to 2011 were alcohol related.

There were zero alcohol-related deaths the last two years.

Jean Ryan, the impaired driving coordinator for the Office of Traffic Safety, says people are more aware of drunken driving enforcement and are making plans for other rides.

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