By KRWG News
New Mexico – A report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranks New Mexico 26th in the nation for the number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths per vehicle miles traveled in 2008.
State officials say this marks the first time New Mexico has a rate equal to the national rate of .40 for DWI fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Gov. Bill Richardson says the state has "thrown the kitchen sink at drunk driving" over the last seven years and the state's ranking is improving as a result.
Richardson also says the state will continue to crack down on drunk drivers and repeat offenders.
The report shows New Mexico's DWI fatalities have been declining. It ranked seventh in 2004 and then dropped to 17th in 2007.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.