Latest DUI Statistics Show Continued Rise in Arrests, Accidents

DUI arrests on Hawai’i Island are continuing to stay above last year’s levels, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Hawaii Police Department.

Those arrests are up 4.8% from 2011, with 33 more arrests taking place last week, two of them under the legal drinking age. For the year, 341 people have been arrested for DUI related offenses.

Major traffic accidents are still up as well. Compared to last year, the 349 accidents reported by police is an 8.4% increase the previous year.

The amount of traffic fatalities on the island remains at seven, which is still one more than the six that occured by this time in 2011. Police Wednesday released a new statistic, which showed that two of the traffic deaths were related to drug use. No deaths were caused by alcohol or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Once again, local law enforcement says that they will continue to set up DUI checkpoints and patrols around the island.