Alcohol-related deaths and accidents down in Kan.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - State transportation officials say the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropped dramatically in 2012 in Kansas.

Preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Transportation says 57 people died in alcohol-related crashes, compared with 102 in 2011. Alcohol-related traffic accidents also declined last year 2,184, the lowest number in more than a decade.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports ( ) Pete Bodyk, traffic safety manager for the transportation department, says one of the reasons for the decline is likely a law enacted in 2011 that requires even even first-time DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device.

The department says 402 people died in traffic accidents in Kansas last year, a 5 percent increase over 2011.