The National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) issued a press release today asking state legislatures to remember the drunk driving auto accident that occurred May 14, 1998. This will be the 20th anniversary of this horrific accident in Kentucky in which 24 youths and 3 adults died and 34 others were injured by a habitual drunk driver.
It was this fatal car crash that was the impetus of the NTSB’s focus on hard core drunk drivers and put the issue on their “Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements.” NTSB put together a model program which included 11 elements they thought would address the issues. They had hoped all states would adopt the model program to reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths each year.
The adoption of these measures has had limited success. According to NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker, “While we have seen some progress in all the states, not enough has been done. If more of the elements of our model program were implemented by the states, there would be far fewer tragedies caused by drunk drivers.”