Report ranks Wis. No. 1 in drunk driving, campus accidents difficult to estimate

By: The Daily Cardinal  / The Daily Cardinal - April 24, 2008

Wisconsin, with its prevalent drinking culture, was rated the state with the most drunk drivers in the country Wednesday. Over one-fourth of drivers said they drove under the influence at least once in the past year.

Wisconsin has the highest rates of drunk driving in the United States, according to a Wednesday report, though UW-Madison officials said it is difficult to gauge the amount on campus.

The report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said 26.4 percent of Wisconsin drivers were intoxicated at least once while driving in the last year.

The states with the next-highest rates included North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. Utah was rated with the lowest amount of drunk drivers with 9.5 percent, according to the report.

Ervin Cox, assistant dean and director of Student Advocacy and Judicial Affairs, said some incidents of drunk driving do occur on campus, but it is difficult to estimate because many people likely drive drunk and are not caught.

He said police might also arrest drunk drivers on campus who are non-students.


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