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RALEIGH – A new study shows fewer North Carolina Latinos face drunken driving charges. Data from the UNC Highway Research Center shows a significant drop in alcohol related crashes involving Hispanics, and fewer DWI charges.

"It is so amazing for us," said Cecilia Saloni, the director of public safety for El Publo Inc., a Latino advocacy group. She is thrilled with the data and feels her hard work is paying off.

Data from the UNC Highway Research Center shows from 2002 to 2007, the number of Hispanics charged with DWI decreased by 5.85 percent. Over this same five-year period, alcohol related crashes involving Latinos went down 1.71 percent.

Saloni believes the results are a direct result of El Pueblo's partnership with the Governor's Highway Safety Program. It's called Nuestra Seguridad, made possible by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They got the message out to the Hispanic community through ads on television, radio and in the newspaper showing harsh realities of driving drunk

"We touched families. We touched the Latino values," Saloni said.

N.C. Highway Patrol praised El Pueblo's efforts in keeping Latinos in the state safe on North Carolina highways.

"This is good news, this is encouraging news for the Hispanic community, and we worked hard in those communities to get the message out about not drinking and driving," said Capt. Everett Clendenin.

Statistics from 2008 were not included in the study. El Pueblo leaders said the number of alcohol related crashes involving Hispanics did increase very slightly last year. They attribute that to grant money from the NHTSA running out in June 2008.

El Pueblo hopes to receive another grant next month.