Mothers Against Drunk Driving has ranked New Mexico 11th in the nation for its efforts against drunken drivers, and praised the steps the state has taken. The state "has made tremendous progress from a decade ago when it was routinely one of the worst states for drunk driving," MADD said Tuesday in releasing its "State Progress Report."

The report looks at the driving-while-intoxicated fatalities in each state and whether that state has sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlock laws.

Some 28.1 percent of traffic fatalities in the state last year involved a drunken driver — a decrease of 8.7 percent from the previous year, said MADD, which is marking the first anniversary of a campaign to eliminate drunken driving.

The organization singled out New Mexico's ignition interlock law for praise.

In 2005, the state became one of the first to require interlocks for all New Mexicans convicted of drunken driving — one year for a first offense, two years for the second, three years for a third and lifetime use for those convicted four or more times. The 2007 Legislature passed a law requiring ignition interlocks for new residents who have out-of-state DWI convictions as well.

Ignition interlocks are intended to prevent vehicles from starting if the driver has been drinking. Drivers must blow into the devices before starting their vehicle, and randomly after that.

"The goal must be to deter, not just apprehend, said Adrian Lund, head of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Interlocks would be the ultimate deterrent if they could be applied to every driver. Then we wouldn't have to convince impaired drivers not to take to the road. We could use the technology to prevent them from doing so."

New Mexico law enforcement agencies extensively use sobriety checkpoints, but MADD said 11 states don't allow checkpoints. In addition, five have no interlock laws.

New Mexico's DWI czar, Rachel O'Connor, thanked MADD for recognizing the state's efforts, but also gave credit to citizens "who have joined the fight against DWI by dialing the 'DrunkBuster' hotline and reporting suspected drunk drivers to law enforcement."

Drunken driving remains a critical issue in New Mexico, but the hotline, DWI enforcement and the state's "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" public awareness campaign are helping reduce it, she said.

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On the Net:

MADD state-by-state progress report: www.madd.org




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