Fatal DWI cases on the decrease in Harris County - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Could it be that Harris County is finally on the way to losing its infamous title as the national leader in DWI-related traffic deaths per capita?

Well, the county is definitely making progress. According to the Sheriff's Office, the number of DWI fatalities in the county has decreased and the amount of DWI arrests has increased.

8:45 a.m. Saturday.

The 11400 block of Hempstead Highway.

HPD says a 62-year-old was killed in a two-car crash.

Even though they say the 62 year old actually caused the crash, at the scene they learned the other driver was drunk.

DWI charges were filed.

While it seems similar situations happen far too often, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia says his deputies are taking more and more dangerous people off the roadways.

"Our deputies are making an increased number of arrests were on track with a lower number of alcohol fatalities and it's exciting but we still have work to do," said Sheriff Garcia.

A top priority-getting rid of that infamous title.

"We always want to be number 1 we want Harris County to be the greatest place to live and have a family and build a business but we don't want to be known as the number 1 county in America for having unsafe roadways because people are driving drunk," said Sheriff Garcia.

Andrea Schmauss knows the affects of drunk driving all too well.   When she was just 19 years old she lost her fiance to a drunk driver.

"On the anniversary of his death, on his birthday, holidays, when someone else is killed or read a story, it brings it all back home again," said Schmauss. She says a drunk driving related crash affects more people than you can even imagine.

"The person that is injured or killed is not the only person affected, it affects their families, co-workers, neighbors, friends at church, the community that's affected is so huge they don't even realize because then it reminds others of the losses they have encountered," said Schmauss.

As a Mothers Against Drunk Driving board member, she's happy to learn Harris County is heading in the right direction, but she's also fed up with people who just don't "get it" and continue to drive while drunk.

"For us it's very frustrating when you keep telling the same message over and over and people continue to make bad choices. I believe the biggest deterrent to drinking and driving is the fear of getting caught and that's why these task forces and no refusals are so critical because it gets the word out that law enforcement is not taking this lightly," said Schmauss.

Sheriff Garcia also says intervention programs, public education campaigns and help from the media has increased awareness about the dangers of driving while intoxicated.