The report looks at traffic deaths linked to alcohol from 1982 to 2002. It also includes alcohol-related traffic fatalities on the county level for 2002. (The report can be downloaded at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2003/809-673-color.pdf)

After years of decline, alcohol-related crashes are on the rise again nationally. Last year, more than 17,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes nationwide, which breaks down to one death every 30 minutes. In addition, about 258,000 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes, which translates to an average of one person injured every two minutes.

"Impaired drivers represent one of our nation's greatest threats," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. "There is no excuse to lose more than 40 lives a day, especially when it is 100-percent preventable."

In anticipation of an increase in drunk-driving deaths during the holiday season, NHTSA is launching its annual "You Drink & Drive. You Lose." campaign. For 16 consecutive nights, local police agencies will conduct sobriety checkpoints and have more officers on the road to identify and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.

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