Michigan State Policesay drunken driving deaths are down slightly, while reported drugged-driving deaths have risen.
Overall, state police say that 357 people were killed on Michigan streets and highways last year in crashes linked to drinking or drug use. That's up from 351 in 2009.
A report released Thursday says drunken-driving deaths fell from 299 to 283, while drug-related crash deaths rose from 119 to 153. The report says one reason for the increase is more testing for drugs. Seventy-nine crash deaths involved both alcohol and drugs.
Some training may help law enforcement nab drivers impaired by narcotics. A Washtenaw County Sheriff's Deputy has completed specialized training that will enhance the department's ability to detect and arrest drugged drivers.
Deputy Douglas McMullen has completed specialized training that will enhance the department's ability to detect and arrest drugged drivers. McMullen was one of 15 officers to take part in the state's first Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) course.
DREs are trained to recognize signs of impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol and to identify the category or categories of drugs causing the impairment. DREs conduct a 12-step evaluation process to make this determination. The DRE program, also referred to as the Drug Evaluation Classification program, began in the 1970s with the Los Angeles Police Department. The program operates under the guidelines and direction of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There are more than 7,300 DREs across the nation.
State police say men are much more likely to get caught driving drunk or high. They say police arrested 41,883 people for drinking- or drug-related driving offenses in 2010. The report says 31,021 of those arrested were men, and 10,862 were women.
