December is National 3D month (Drinking, drugs, and driving). In Lee County, we are making it 4D month (drinking, drugs, distracted and drowsy driving). Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to be the most often committed and deadliest crime in America. The Fort Myers Police Department will be hosting the 4D Month press conference outside headquarters on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), in 2013, 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, an average of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality occurred every 52 minutes. These alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 31 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States.
Of the 10, 076 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2013, 6,515 (65%) were drivers with BACs of .08 or higher. The remaining fatalities consisted of 2, 724 motor vehicle occupants (27%) and 837 non-occupants (8%).
In 2013, a total of 1,149 children 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those, 1,149 fatalities, 200 (17%) occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Out of the 200 deaths, 121 (61%) were occupants of vehicles with drivers who had BACs of .08 or higher, and another 29 children (15%) were pedestrians or pedal cyclists struck by drivers with BACs of .08 or higher.
In Lee County in 2014 we had 84 traffic fatalities. As of October 21, 2015 we have had 77 fatalities on our roadways. We consistently show 48%-52% of the trauma alerts have alcohol or illicit drugs or both in their system at the time of the crash.
Bicycle and pedestrian crashes from 1/1/ 2014 to 11/14/2015 have totaled 1,043 crashes.
In 2014, there were 537 crashes with 28 fatal and 393 injuries; in 2015, there were 506 crashes with 19 fatal and 360 injuries.
For further information contact:
Syndi Bultman R.N., M.S. CEN
Injury Prevention Manager Trauma Services
239-343-3797
Syndi.bultman@leememorial.org
Lieutenant Victor Medico
Public Information Officer
Fort Myers Police Department
2210 Widman Way
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
(239) 321-7748
vmedico@fmpolice.com