DUI deaths down since ban on open containers

HELENA – The percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths is down since the state’s ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles took effect in October, but transportation officials stressed Thursday it was too early to connect the two.

In the last three months of 2005, alcohol was involved in 15 of 43 reported traffic deaths, or about 35 percent, Jim Lynch, director of the state Department of Transportation, told the Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee on Thursday.

Typically, that number is closer to 50 percent, DOT figures show.

Although Lynch was encouraged by the decline, he told lawmakers more time and data would be needed to determine if the state’s open-container law was directly responsible.

“It’s a cultural change I think is going to take some years to develop,” he said. “I am very happy to at least see the numbers aren’t going up, at least the alcohol-related numbers, they’re going down.”

Col. Paul Grimstad, head of the Montana Highway Patrol, echoed those sentiments. Traffic deaths involving alcohol have fallen, he said, but it’s too early to tell if it’s because of the open container ban.

“We haven’t had a lot of violations of open container,” Grimstad said. “We’ve run into some, I know, but it has not been just an overwhelming (number).”

Passed by state lawmakers last spring after years of failed attempts, the ban on open alcohol containers in vehicles made Montana one of the last states to outlaw drinking while driving. State officials hope it will cut drunken driving numbers and help change the attitude held by many residents that drinking and driving is OK.

Although cities and towns in the state forbid open alcoholic beverage containers in vehicles, no prohibition had applied on Montana highways before.