A new government study shows an increase in the number of women driving under the influence of alcohol. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study looked at the number of intoxicated female drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2007 to 2008 and found that it increased or remained flat in 15 states compared to 13 states for male drivers. This is noteworthy, since the overall number of alcohol-impared drivers decreased 9 percent nationwide. About 2,000 fatalities a year involve an impaired female driver.

The FBI released even more compelling evidence of this trend--from 1998-2007 in data showing there was an increase of almost 29 percent of women driving while drunk compared with a 7.5 percent decrease in men. Overall, however, four times as many men were arrested for drunk driving.

These statistics were revealed in coordination with the annual nationwide crackdown campaign on drunk driving, which begins today and runs through Labor Day. Over last year’s Labor Day weekend, 40 percent of fatal crashes involved a drunk driver. In 2008, nearly 12,000 people died from alcohol related crashes.

Police will be out in force over the next few weeks, which is a dubbed a high-risk travel period. Drivers are urged to follow the law or risk getting arrested. Driving while drunk is a deadly combination. We would admonish sober drivers to be extra vigilant on the roads. And if you’ve had a few drinks, for the safety of everyone, please hand over your keys.

—Liza Barth