New Year’s Eve can be a dangerous night on Iowa roads, especially because of motorists who have been drinking alcohol. Iowa Department of Public Safety Director Gene Meyer says young people represent a large percentage of the people killed every year in crashes involving drunk drivers.
"Tragically, nearly 30 percent of all victims who died in alcohol related crashes in Iowa from 1997 to 2006, were 25 year old or younger," Meyer says. Meyer is encouraging Iowans who are out tonight celebrating the new year, to designate a sober driver or to call a cab. He says more than 50 people are charged with OWI everyday in Iowa.
The Christmas and New Year’s holiday period is one of the more dangerous times of the year related to drunk driving. Last December and January, nearly 2,800 Americans were killed in alcohol-related crashes.