In 2008, South Carolina was 2nd in the US for the percent of traffic accident deaths that involved alcohol-impaired driving. After a nearly 6% drop in those deaths in 2009, the state is now tied for 3rd, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

The ranking is done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA defines alcohol-impaired driving fatalities as deaths in traffic crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater.

According to the SC Department of Public Safety, the ranking is based on South Carolina's 5.8% reduction in the number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths from 400 in 2008 to 377 in 2009. In addition to a decrease in alcohol-impaired driving deaths, South Carolina experienced a 2.9% reduction in overall traffic fatalities - from 921 in 2008 to 894 in 2009. South Carolina also is on track to end 2010 with fewer traffic deaths than 2009.

So far this year, 550 people have died on South Carolina roads compared to 639 during the same time frame in 2009.