Impaired Driving

In 2008, 37,261 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes and 11,773, or 32%, of these were alcohol-related. (NHTSA, 2009)

Federal leadership in critical areas, such as impaired driving, has resulted in the rapid adoption of life-saving laws in states across the country. In 2003, we celebrated another milestone in federal leadership with the adoption of .08 percent BAC by all 50 states. Two other examples are the national 21 minimum drinking age and zero tolerance BAC laws for youth.

Now, there is a critical need in the fight against drunk driving for mandatory installation of an ignition interlock devices for all offenders.

Additionally, documented successes in reducing drunk driving have resulted in laws requiring mandatory BAC testing for those drivers killed in or drivers who are involved in, yet survive, a crash in which deaths occur; laws penalizing impaired drivers who have one or more children in the car; and laws prohibiting any open container.

IMPAIRED DRIVING FACTS

In 2007, 11,773 traffic fatalities occurred in crashes in which at least one driver or passenger had a BAC of 0.08 or greater. (NHTSA, 2009)

The impact of alcohol involvement increases with injury severity. Alcohol-involved crashes account for 10% of property damage only crash costs, 21% of nonfatal injury crash costs, and 46% of fatal injury crash costs. (NHTSA, 2002)

Approximately three out of every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA, 1999)

Approximately 1.5 million drivers were arrested in 2002 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 130 licensed drivers in the United States. (NHTSA, 2004)

In 2008, 16 percent of the children age 14 and younger who were killed in motor vehicle crashes occurred in alcohol-related crashes. (NHTSA, 2009)

Only 18 percent of children who were killed in a crash while riding in the impaired driver's vehicle were properly restrained. (NHTSA, 2009)

Out of the drunk drivers killed in crashes in 2008, 73% percent were unrestrained. (NHTSA, 2009)

Alcohol-related crashes cost society approximately $40 billion a year. (NHTSA, 2002)

January 2010