ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES BY MONTH

Though it is traditionally a time of holiday revelry and high spirits, during the last five years December has not been a particularly lethal period when alcohol is a factor. Of the 765 people killed on county streets, roads and highways from 1984-88, just 59 (or 7.7%) were killed in December. In fact, just three months--January, March and July--had lower five-year totals.

The deadliest month during the five years was February, 1987, when 24 people were killed; the safest single month was January, 1984, during which five fatalities occurred.

Month 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 January 5 10 13 8 7 February 13 11 13 24 7 March 13 13 7 15 10 April 12 21 11 17 13 May 8 18 13 13 10 June 12 10 18 13 11 July 9 7 16 13 12 August 17 10 12 10 17 September 21 16 11 20 16 October 17 16 12 11 12 November 12 14 16 13 5 December 10 13 13 9 14

Source: California Highway Patrol