Oklahoma was the No. 5 most dangerous state to drive in during 2013, according to USA Today’s article, “Most Dangerous States to Drive In” (Dec. 1, 2015). The article states, “Of all drivers killed behind the wheel in 2013 in Oklahoma, 91 percent had alcohol in their blood, a larger share than the 72 percent of American drivers killed the same year.”
According to Toby Taylor, Interim Director for the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, that’s a misinterpretation of facts provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.iihs.org). A previous version of this article incorrectly represented a data set–drivers killed with known BAC (blood alcohol content)–as the proportion of drivers killed in a car crash that had alcohol in their blood. In fact, the data set–which came from IIHS–only refers to the number of drivers killed that were tested for a BAC (blood alcohol content), and makes no claim about whether these drivers had alcohol in their system. This correction can be found at http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/12/01/mostleast-dangerous-states-to-drive/#ixzz3tCV4Y770
OHSO data shows that 91 percent of 341 drivers killed in fatality collisions in Oklahoma in 2013 had known BAC test results. Not only were these people a danger to themselves, but they may have also been a danger to other road users too. It is not uncommon for people who have high BAC results to seriously injure another person, which could result in them having to contact someone similar to the PC Law Group to help make a compensation claim to ensure that they are able to pay for their medical bills and any future rehabilitation treatment. And this may have started by someone who didn’t take the relevant safety precautions when getting into their car. Of those with known BAC results, some 25 percent were found to have a BAC of .08 or greater. Notably, 25 percent is the lowest percentage that Oklahoma has had since 1998, when it was 20 percent. “We are thankful that the facts aren’t as shocking as the citations in USA Today’s article, but the 25 percent of drivers killed in fatality collisions with a BAC of .08 or higher is still alarming. If you plan to drink, always designate a non-drinking driver or arrange alternate means of transportation. We want Oklahoma roads to be safe for everyone” says Taylor.
Traffic facts concerning Oklahoma’s alcohol related fatalities in 2013 can also be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/40_OK/2014/40_OK_2014.htm
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