One-Third of Driving Deaths Linked to Alcohol, Government Reports

An estimated 31 percent of driving deaths were linked to alcohol in 2010, compared with nine percent of deaths caused by distracted driving, according to a new government report.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s report found that overall, highway deaths fell last year to the lowest level in six decades, even though Americans are driving more, The Wall Street Journal reports.

A total of 32,885 people died in vehicle crashes in the United States last year. Of those deaths, 10,228 were related to alcohol. Deaths linked to alcohol fell 4.9 percent from 2009 to 2010, the report noted.

The number of alcohol-impaired drivers in deadly crashes decreased for most vehicle types. The largest decline was seen among drivers of pickup trucks.