Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

Transcription

1 Drunk Driving Accident Statistics Drunk Driving Legal Resources Drunk Driving Laws by State Video - Rights of Injured Drivers Defective Car Products & Parts Steps to Take After a Car Crash Auto Accident Statistics Bicycle Accident Stats Bus Accident Statistics Car Accident Statistics Cell Phone Car Crash Stats Motorcycle Accident Stats Pedestrian Accident Stats Rollover SUV Crash Stats Seat Belt Statistics Single Vehicle Crash Stats Teen Driver Statistics Truck Accident Statistics Our lawyers know the emotional and physical damage caused by people who drink and drive. If you've been hurt in a drunk driving car accident, you want a lawyer who understands your needs. When you hire us, our experience goes to work as we fight for the money you deserve. Contact us today for a free legal evaluation. Understanding Drunk Driving Statistics The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) refers to drunk driving crashes as "alcohol-impaired-driving" accidents. The NHTSA's figures often change as more data becomes available. The following statistics are estimates and subject to fluctuation. But even if the numbers change with time, the lesson remains the same drunk driving claims lives. United States Drunk Driving Car Accident Statistics (2008) There were 11,773 drunk driving deaths in showed a 9.7% decrease from 2007 in alcohol-impaired driving deaths. Drunk driving deaths (11,773) accounted for 32% of the total amount of United States car accident deaths (37,261) in ,347 children ages 14 and younger died as occupants in car accidents in Of those deaths, 216 (approx 16%) were the direct result of drunk drivers.

2 Along with the 1,347 child occupant fatalities, another 34 children died as pedestrians or bikers who were hit by drunk drivers. Nighttime drivers were four times more likely to die in drunk driving crashes in 2008 than those driving during the daytime. In 2008, weekend drivers were twice as likely to be involved in drinking and driving car crashes than weekday drivers. The age group accounted for 34% of all alcohol-impaired-drivers who died in accidents in The demographic accounted for 31%, while those from years of age accounted for 25%. Despite being under the legal drinking age, American teens from the ages of were more likely to be killed while driving under the influence than adults ages Teens accounted for 17% of all drivers who were involved in drunk driving crashes, while those from accounted for 12%. Of the drunk driving crashes where seat belt use was known, nearly 75% of all drunk drivers killed in accidents in 2008 weren't wearing seat belts. In the United States, a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of.08 or higher is considered above the legal limit in nearly every state. The most frequently recorded BAC level among drivers who were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving accidents in 2008 was.16, or twice the legal limit. Drunk drivers who were over the legal limit when they died in 2008 were eight times more likely to have been previously convicted for drunk driving. In 2008, 6,316 passenger vehicle drivers were over the legal limit when car crashes claimed their lives. In 2008, it was more dangerous to drive drunk on a motorcycle than in any other vehicle. The percentage of bikers with a BAC level of.08 or greater when they died in a crash was higher than the amount of drunk drivers who died while operating other vehicle types. The following table of stats shows the total state-by-state auto accident fatalities in 2008 and the percentage of car crash deaths that involved a driver who had.08% blood-alcohol content or higher Auto Accident Fatalities and Drunk Driving Deaths in the United States State Crash Deaths Drunk Driving Deaths Pct. of State Crash Deaths Drunk Driving Deaths Pct. of Alabama % Montana % Alaska % Nebraska % Arizona % Nevada % Arkansas % New Hampshire % California 3,434 1,029 30% New Jersey %

3 Colorado % New Mexico % Connecticut % New York 1, % Delaware % North Carolina 1, % D.C % North Dakota % Florida 2, % Ohio 1, % Georgia 1, % Oklahoma % Hawaii % Oregon % Idaho % Pennsylvania 1, % Illinois 1, % Rhode Island % Indiana % South Carolina % Iowa % South Dakota % Kansas % Tennessee 1, % Kentucky % Texas 3,382 1,269 38% Louisiana % Utah % Maine % Vermont % Maryland % Virginia % Massachusetts % Washington % Michigan % West Virginia % Minnesota % Wisconsin % Mississippi % Wyoming % Missouri % U.S. 37,261 11,773 32% National Drunk Driving Car Crash Statistics (2007) The following stats represent total state-by-state auto accident fatalities in 2007 and the percentage of car crash deaths that involved a driver who had.08% blood-alcohol content or higher Auto Accident Fatalities and Drunk Driving Deaths in the United States State Crash Drunk Driving Pct. of State Crash Drunk Driving Pct. of

4 Deaths Deaths Deaths Deaths Alabama 1, % Montana % Alaska % Nebraska % Arizona 1, % Nevada % Arkansas % New Hampshire % California 3,995 1,132 28% New Jersey % Colorado % New Mexico % Connecticut % New York 1, % Delaware % North Carolina 1, % D.C % North Dakota % Florida 3, % Ohio 1, % Georgia 1, % Oklahoma % Hawaii % Oregon % Idaho % Pennsylvania 1, % Illinois 1, % Rhode Island % Indiana % South Carolina 1, % Iowa % South Dakota % Kansas % Tennessee 1, % Kentucky % Texas 3,466 1,333 38% Louisiana % Utah % Maine % Vermont % Maryland % Virginia 1, % Massachusetts % Washington % Michigan 1, % West Virginia % Minnesota % Wisconsin % Mississippi % Wyoming % Missouri % U.S. 41,259 13,041 32%

5 In 2007, approximately 13,041 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving accidents. Thirty-two states had decreases in drunk driving fatalities compared to 2006, and 18 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico had increases. California has the largest decrease in fatalities among the states there were 117 fewer drunk driving deaths in 2007 than there were in North Carolina had the largest increase in drunk driving deaths 66 more in 2007 than in South Carolina was second with a 44-fatalitiy increase. Alcohol-related driving fatalities accounted for 31.7% of total traffic deaths. The age groups that accounted for the largest percent of alcohol-related traffic deaths were ages and Each made up 23% of the deaths in Underage drinkers accounted for 14% of drunk driving deaths. In 2007, about 67% of alcohol-related driving fatalities were drivers with BACs of.08 or more. Approximately 17% were passengers riding with the drunk drivers. The age group with the highest percentage of drunk drivers involved in fatal car crashes was This age group accounted for 26% of the fatal accidents. 83% of the drivers involved in fatal crashes who had BACs of.08 or higher were male. In 2007, 57% of the fatal alcohol-related car crashes occurred on the weekends. The times of day with the highest number of drunk driving fatalities were midnight to 3 a.m. (28%), 9 p.m. to midnight (21%), and then 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (16%). In 2007, drivers between the ages of were involved in 1,719 drunk driving accidents. 68% of the drunk driving fatalities in 2007 involved single-vehicle crashes; 32% involved multi-vehicle crashes. Pennsylvania Alcohol-Related Car Accident Statistics (2007) There were 535 alcohol-related deaths in % of those killed in alcohol-related crashes were in the same vehicle as the drunk driver. 72% of those killed were the drunk driver themselves. 77% of drunk drivers involved in crashes were male. On an average day in 2007, there were 35 alcohol-related crashes with 1.5 fatalities and 27 injured people. The majority of drunk driving crashes occur at night- 75% Alcohol-related crash fatalities were highest between the hours of midnight and 4 am. Alcohol-related crash fatalities were highest on Saturday. 49% of car accident deaths that occured during the holiday weekends were related to alcohol use. National Drunk Driving Car Crash Statistics (2006) The following stats represent total state-by-state auto accident fatalities in 2006 and the percentage of deaths in car crashes that involved a driver who had.08% blood-alcohol content or higher. State Deaths Pct. State Deaths Pct. State Deaths Pct.

6 Alabama 1,206 32% Kentucky % North Dakota % Alaska 73 27% Louisiana % Ohio 1,235 31% Arizona 1,280 32% Maine % Oklahoma % Arkansas % Maryland % Oregon % California 4,229 30% Massachusetts % Pennsylvania 1,517 32% Colorado % Michigan 1,081 31% Rhode Island 81 36% Connecticut % Minnesota % South Carolina 1,037 40% Delaware % Mississippi % South Dakota % D.C % Missouri 1,087 35% Tennessee 1,286 32% Florida 3,363 29% Montana % Texas 3,466 39% Georgia 1,688 27% Nebraska % Utah % Hawaii % Nevada % Vermont 86 30% Idaho % New Hampshire % Virginia % Illinois 1,254 35% New Jersey % Washington % Indiana % New Mexico % West Virginia % Iowa % New York 1,454 27% Wisconsin % Kansas % North Carolina 1,558 27% Wyoming % Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Car Accident Statistics (2006) In 2006, there were 13,491 alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. There were 545 alcohol-related deaths in % of the driver deaths in the age group were drinking drivers. 49% of the driver deaths in the age group were drinking drivers. Alcohol-related deaths were 36% of the total traffic deaths. 78% of the drinking drivers involved in accidents were male. 79% of the alcohol-related crashes happened during hours of darkness, usually on weekends. On an average day, 37 alcohol-related crashes occurred. On an average day, 29 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes. On an average day, 1.5 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. 15% of all holiday crashes involved alcohol use.

7 National Alcohol-Related Car Accident Statistics (2005) In 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths. Of the 16,885 people who died in alcohol-related crashes in 2005, 14,539 or 86% were killed in crashes where at least one driver or nonoccupant had a BAC of.08 or higher. An estimated 254,000 people were injured in crashes where police reported alcohol was present. Alcohol was present in 24% of drivers involved in fatal crashes. Over half of the 414 child passengers ages 14 and younger that died in an alcohol-related crash were riding with a drunk driver. Of the 1,946 traffic fatalities among children ages 0 to 14 years old, 21% involved alcohol. 48 children ages 14 and under were killed as pedestrians or pedacyclists by an impaired driver. Male drivers are almost twice as likely as female drivers to be involved in a fatal car crash with a BAC of.08 or higher. In 2005, 16% of drivers aged 16 to 20 who were killed in an accident had been drinking alcohol. The highest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes who had BAC levels of.08 or higher was for drivers ages 21 to 24 followed by the 25 to 34 age group. Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes was 3 times higher at night as during the day. For all crashes, the alcohol involvement rate is 5 times higher at night. Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Crash Statistics (2005) In 2005, there were 580 fatalities from alcohol-related crashes. 89% of those killed in alcohol-related crashes were in the same vehicle as the drunk driver. 72% of those killed were the drunk drivers themselves. 79% of drunk drivers involved in crashes are male. On an average day in 2005, there were 36 alcohol-related crashes with 1.6 fatalities and 29 injured people. The majority of drunk driving crashes occur at night - 77%. Alcohol-related car crash deaths were highest between the hours of midnight and 4am. Alcohol-related crash fatalities were highest on Saturday. General United States Drunk Driving Statistics Alcohol-related car crashes kill someone every 45 minutes and injure someone every two minutes. In the United States, drunk driving is the leading criminal cause of death. More than 17,000 people are the victims of drunk driving accidents every year. Approximately 40% of all motor-vehicle fatalities are alcohol-related. Frequent drunk drivers are responsible for almost 60% of alcohol-related fatalities.

8 38% of all Christmas-time car accident deaths and 54 % of all New Year's car accident deaths are alcohol-related. Approximately 17% of drunk drivers injured in car accidents are charged and convicted, 11% are charged and not convicted, and 72% are never charged. Drunk driving accidents cost the public around $114.3 billion a year. About one-third of people arrested for drunk driving are repeat offenders. Drivers with a BAC of.08 or higher who are involved in fatal crashes are eight times more likely to have a prior DUI conviction than drivers who consumed no alcohol.