1999–2000 Ohio Alcohol-Related Crash Statistics by County

In 1999, the most recent year for which statistics are available, teenage drinking was a factor in 2,273 traffic deaths among those ages 15–20. Research shows that teenage drinking fell by approximately 13% after the legal drinking age was raised to 21 in all states in the 1980s. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths in the 15–20 age group fell by nearly 50% in the decade after the legal drinking age was set at 21. (The NY Times, 7/6/01)

Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety, 1999 and 2000 Ohio Traffic Crash Facts

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, about 58,000 people a year are arrested for drunken driving in Ohio, and roughly 85% are convicted. The number of arrests has diminished over the years as awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving has improved. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/27/01)