We have a drunk driving problem! And, it's not just South Dakota. The surrounding states are just as bad when it comes to alcohol impairment.

There are so many scenarios that involve drinking: dining out with your spouse, a party with friends, a few beers with your coworkers after work, sporting events, and many more.

Some sobering facts about where we live find Wyoming ranked worst for drunk driving problems and had more fatalities per 100,000 people than any other state. North Dakota was the state with the most DUIs, trailed by South Dakota and Wyoming.

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In Minnesota 1 in 7 people have at least one DWI. The latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety find there were 394 alcohol-related deaths.

DO STATE LAWS NEED TO BE TIGHTER
This week the South Dakota State Legislature passed House Bill 1170 that would establish mandatory sentences for certain driving while under the influence violations. On Wednesday, the House Judiciary passed the bill to send it to the full House.

Take the right approach to a fun evening out. Plan a ride-share, hand over the keys before the party begins, or just order a soda and drive sober for others.

DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUNK DRIVING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified that 30 people die every day in the United States in alcohol-related car accidents. For the mathematicians out there, that means a death every 50 minutes.

Over 10,000 Americans a year are killed by drunk drivers, about 1,000 of them being children.

9 Driving Laws in South Dakota that Might Surprise You, Some You Didn't Know Existed

There are some things you can do on South Dakota roads that you may have once thought illegal but aren't. Like, can you ride in the back of a pickup, or drive barefoot in South Dakota?

While perusing the South Dakota Department of Public Safety I was reminded of some things that come up in conversation quite often.

Here are a few to ponder:

The 6 Types of South Dakota Drivers You Deal With Every Winter

Every year it snows in Sioux Falls. We may live in denial during the spring and summer, but it happens.

When the snow falls on the Falls, life in the city does not stop. We all still have to go to work, school, and the liquor store...um I mean go get snacks.

When you tackle the snowy routes around town you tend to run across six types of drivers in the snow.

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