EFFORTS TO REDUCE DRUNK DRIVING ARE SAVING MANY LIVES

The statistics are convincing: Efforts to impose stiffer penalties and to raise public awareness are reducing the number of traffic deaths related to drinking and driving.

Many groups and organizations in both the public and private sectors have campaigned long and hard to reduce the number of motorists who get behind the wheel after drinking. "Designated driver" has been added to the vocabulary, and awareness campaigns have convincingly shown the effects of just a few drinks and the ability to drive safely.

The consequences of driving while intoxicated are costly. The highest price is human life. It is good news that the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities is declining, but the bad news is that thousands of Americans still die every year because a drunk decided to get behind the wheel.

Other costs for drunk drivers are the penalties imposed by state and local governments. Missouri has closed some loopholes in state law, making it more difficult for intoxicated drivers to skirt prosecution. But Missouri's limit on blood-alcohol content is still higher -- 0.10 percent -- than many other states that have lowered the limit to 0.08 percent. Statistically, states with lower limits have fewer drunk-driving fatalities.

Across the nation, efforts to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities are paying off. In 1993, for example, there were 17,641 deaths in the United States due to drunk driving. This is down from 19,987 alcohol-related fatalities in 1991. That means 2,426 fewer lives lost due to drinking motorists.

First and foremost, it is an individual responsibility to drive safely. Efforts to make motorists aware of the consequence of driving drunk are working.