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FATALITY FACTS 2011

Alcohol

The probability of a fatal crash rises significantly after 0.05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and even more rapidly after 0.08 percent. Zador, P.L.; Krawchuck, S.; and Voas, R.B. 2000. Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvement in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: an update using 1996 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:387-95. Voas, R.B.; Torres, P.; Romano, E.; and Lacey, J.H. 2012. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 73(3):341-350. Drivers with very high BACs (at or above 0.15 percent) have a very high risk of dying in a crash or getting severely injured. Zador, P.L.; Krawchuck, S.; and Voas, R.B. 2000. Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvement in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: an update using 1996 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:387-95. , Peck, R.C.; Gebers, M.A.; Voas, R.B.; and Romano, E. 2008. The relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC), age, and crash risk. Journal of Safety Research 39:311-19. All states have laws defining impairment as driving with a BAC at or above 0.08 percent.

Substantial progress was made from 1982 to the mid-1990s in reducing the numbers and proportion of fatally injured drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent. However, little subsequent progress has been made, and alcohol-impaired driving is still a major problem. Institute research estimated that 7,082 deaths would have been prevented in 2010 if all drivers with BACs of 0.08 percent or higher were kept off the roads. Lund, A.K.; McCartt, A.T.; and Farmer, C.M. 2012. Contribution of alcohol-impaired driving to motor-vehicle crash deaths in 2010. Arlington, VA: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Applying the same methods yields an estimate of 6,794 preventable deaths if all drivers with BACs of 0.08 percent or higher were kept off the roads in 2011.

At the same BAC, drivers younger than 21 are far more likely than older drivers to get into a fatal or nonfatal crash. Zador, P.L.; Krawchuck, S.; and Voas, R.B. 2000. Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvement in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: an update using 1996 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:387-95. Voas, R.B.; Torres, P.; Romano, E.; and Lacey, J.H. 2012. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 73(3):341-350. Peck, R.C.; Gebers, M.A.; Voas, R.B.; and Romano, E. 2008. The relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC), age, and crash risk. Journal of Safety Research 39:311-19. The minimum drinking age is 21 throughout the United States. In addition, all states have "zero tolerance" laws that prohibit people younger than 21 from driving after drinking. In recent years, drivers younger than 21 killed in crashes are about half as likely as fatally injured drivers ages 21-30 to have a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher.

The information in this fact sheet is based on data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia with imputations for missing BACs provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation's multiple imputation model. Subramanian, R. 2002. Transitioning to multiple imputation — a new method to impute missing blood alcohol concentration (BAC) values in FARS. Report no. DOT HS-809-403. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Data subsections:

Trends Age and gender When alcohol-impaired crashes occur

Trends

The percentage of fatally injured drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent declined steadily from 49 percent in 1982 to 33 percent in 1994 (a 32 percent decline). About a third of fatally injured drivers have had BACs of 0.08 percent or above since 1994. Among drivers and pedestrians killed in crashes in 2011, drivers of large trucks had the lowest proportion of BACs at or above 0.08 percent (2 percent) and pedestrians ages 16 and older had the highest proportion (37 percent).

Percent of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by type, 1982-2011

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by type, 1982-2011
YearAll drivers Passenger vehicle drivers Large truck drivers Motorcycle drivers Pedestrians (age ≥16)
DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
1982 24,690 12,139 49 19,664 10,024 51 735 123 17 3,723 1,810 49 5,993 2,668 45
1983 24,138 11,543 48 19,338 9,529 49 767 115 15 3,592 1,783 50 5,582 2,486 45
1984 25,589 11,499 45 20,300 9,379 46 859 107 12 3,896 1,834 47 5,755 2,439 42
1985 25,337 10,685 42 20,058 8,674 43 775 84 11 3,896 1,756 45 5,539 2,263 41
1986 26,630 11,409 43 21,503 9,396 44 736 58 8 3,790 1,772 47 5,547 2,242 40
1987 26,833 11,058 41 22,157 9,343 42 686 53 8 3,409 1,499 44 5,597 2,176 39
1988 27,253 11,103 41 22,884 9,580 42 743 66 9 3,139 1,338 43 5,701 2,162 38
1989 26,389 10,637 40 22,554 9,200 41 681 68 10 2,682 1,233 46 5,557 2,186 39
1990 25,750 10,395 40 21,953 8,973 41 570 50 9 2,790 1,235 44 5,488 2,137 39
1991 23,930 9,485 40 20,551 8,242 40 550 39 7 2,404 1,059 44 4,880 1,895 39
1992 22,584 8,452 37 19,573 7,434 38 506 26 5 2,079 873 42 4,734 1,861 39
1993 23,142 8,322 36 20,036 7,328 37 504 26 5 2,120 825 39 4,740 1,856 39
1994 23,691 7,913 33 20,647 7,083 34 545 36 7 1,995 663 33 4,637 1,718 37
1995 24,390 8,307 34 21,457 7,488 35 546 31 6 1,939 664 34 4,783 1,793 37
1996 24,534 8,175 33 21,631 7,336 34 525 34 6 1,881 683 36 4,670 1,804 39
1997 24,667 7,843 32 21,711 7,069 33 616 19 3 1,878 622 33 4,621 1,638 35
1998 24,743 7,834 32 21,627 6,944 32 628 30 5 2,026 716 35 4,597 1,678 37
1999 25,257 7,918 31 21,899 6,994 32 631 28 4 2,223 736 33 4,325 1,646 38
2000 25,567 8,166 32 21,819 7,127 33 641 28 4 2,591 847 33 4,192 1,534 37
2001 25,869 8,252 32 21,862 7,205 33 591 22 4 2,886 853 30 4,368 1,558 36
2002 26,659 8,515 32 22,537 7,381 33 582 38 7 2,952 940 32 4,367 1,584 36
2003 26,779 8,354 31 22,200 7,120 32 608 23 4 3,358 1,010 30 4,298 1,560 36
2004 26,871 8,155 30 21,952 6,952 32 624 24 4 3,593 995 28 4,237 1,528 36
2005 27,491 8,489 31 21,953 7,104 32 663 22 3 4,142 1,141 28 4,458 1,559 35
2006 27,348 8,578 31 21,592 7,164 33 678 30 4 4,387 1,179 27 4,384 1,656 38
2007 26,570 8,617 32 20,542 7,057 34 663 17 3 4,740 1,328 28 4,305 1,587 37
2008 24,254 7,961 33 18,266 6,280 34 534 19 4 4,782 1,436 30 4,069 1,545 38
2009 21,835 7,213 33 16,834 5,791 34 399 16 4 3,987 1,191 30 3,811 1,401 37
2010 21,072 6,579 31 16,029 5,177 32 426 17 4 4,022 1,152 29 3,989 1,410 35
2011 20,753 6,507 31 15,512 5,046 33 492 10 2 4,105 1,244 30 4,152 1,548 37

The percentage of fatally injured drivers with BACs of 0.15 percent or higher has declined 34 percent since 1982 but with little change since 1996. Twenty-four percent of passenger vehicle drivers killed in 2011 had BACs at or above 0.15 percent compared with 18 percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers. A higher percentage of pedestrians (29 percent) killed in crashes had BACs at or above 0.15 percent than did any group of drivers.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.15 percent by type, 1982-2011
YearAll drivers Passenger vehicle drivers Large truck drivers Motorcycle drivers Pedestrians (age ≥16)
DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15DeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
1982 24,690 8,660 35 19,664 7,328 37 735 75 10 3,723 1,136 30 5,993 2,077 35
1983 24,138 8,240 34 19,338 6,969 36 767 79 10 3,592 1,115 31 5,582 1,945 35
1984 25,589 8,203 32 20,300 6,864 34 859 70 8 3,896 1,136 29 5,755 1,886 33
1985 25,337 7,521 30 20,058 6,269 31 775 55 7 3,896 1,085 28 5,539 1,732 31
1986 26,630 8,077 30 21,503 6,783 32 736 34 5 3,790 1,144 30 5,547 1,730 31
1987 26,833 7,968 30 22,157 6,854 31 686 34 5 3,409 966 28 5,597 1,735 31
1988 27,253 8,114 30 22,884 7,126 31 743 45 6 3,139 862 27 5,701 1,688 30
1989 26,389 7,774 29 22,554 6,847 30 681 49 7 2,682 791 29 5,557 1,706 31
1990 25,750 7,631 30 21,953 6,670 30 570 32 6 2,790 824 30 5,488 1,697 31
1991 23,930 7,014 29 20,551 6,192 30 550 24 4 2,404 697 29 4,880 1,512 31
1992 22,584 6,258 28 19,573 5,569 28 506 17 3 2,079 590 28 4,734 1,474 31
1993 23,142 6,104 26 20,036 5,494 27 504 14 3 2,120 505 24 4,740 1,499 32
1994 23,691 5,849 25 20,647 5,326 26 545 27 5 1,995 411 21 4,637 1,355 29
1995 24,390 6,018 25 21,457 5,495 26 546 19 3 1,939 415 21 4,783 1,394 29
1996 24,534 5,925 24 21,631 5,383 25 525 18 4 1,881 440 23 4,670 1,433 31
1997 24,667 5,668 23 21,711 5,164 24 616 14 2 1,878 400 21 4,621 1,329 29
1998 24,743 5,692 23 21,627 5,127 24 628 23 4 2,026 449 22 4,597 1,332 29
1999 25,257 5,678 22 21,899 5,108 23 631 22 3 2,223 440 20 4,325 1,292 30
2000 25,567 5,801 23 21,819 5,138 24 641 10 2 2,591 539 21 4,192 1,204 29
2001 25,869 5,976 23 21,862 5,328 24 591 17 3 2,886 522 18 4,368 1,232 28
2002 26,659 6,146 23 22,537 5,463 24 582 23 4 2,952 564 19 4,367 1,267 29
2003 26,779 6,010 22 22,200 5,258 24 608 15 2 3,358 609 18 4,298 1,254 29
2004 26,871 5,837 22 21,952 5,089 23 624 16 2 3,593 614 17 4,237 1,195 28
2005 27,491 6,073 22 21,953 5,220 24 663 14 2 4,142 684 17 4,458 1,246 28
2006 27,348 6,101 22 21,592 5,248 24 678 18 3 4,387 698 16 4,384 1,324 30
2007 26,570 6,275 24 20,542 5,272 26 663 11 2 4,740 841 18 4,305 1,269 29
2008 24,254 5,844 24 18,266 4,792 26 534 13 3 4,782 891 19 4,069 1,243 31
2009 21,835 5,219 24 16,834 4,324 26 399 12 3 3,987 727 18 3,811 1,115 29
2010 21,072 4,881 23 16,029 3,964 25 426 10 2 4,022 736 18 3,989 1,141 29
2011 20,753 4,671 23 15,512 3,768 24 492 5 1 4,105 757 18 4,152 1,223 29

Age and gender

Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2011, a higher proportion of males than females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent at every age. Overall 38 percent of males and 20 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. The percentages were highest among males ages 21-40. The lowest percentages were observed among drivers older than 70 among both men and women. Drivers younger than age 21 who were killed in crashes had far lower percentages of BACs of 0.08 percent or greater than drivers ages 21-30 who died: 28 percent versus 48 percent in 2011.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by driver age and gender, 2011
AgeMale Female Total*
Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
16-20 1,175 388 33 545 97 18 1,720 485 28
21-30 2,628 1,417 54 965 319 33 3,593 1,736 48
31-40 1,601 798 50 626 190 30 2,227 988 44
41-50 1,554 686 44 651 182 28 2,205 868 39
51-60 1,453 499 34 573 87 15 2,026 585 29
61-70 1,041 206 20 516 42 8 1,557 249 16
>70 1,375 97 7 774 29 4 2,149 126 6
Total* 10,851 4,095 38 4,657 949 20 15,512 5,046 33
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2011, 28 percent of males and 15 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.15 percent.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.15 percent by driver age and gender, 2011
AgeMale Female Total*
Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
16-20 1,175 240 20 545 64 12 1,720 304 18
21-30 2,628 1,066 41 965 238 25 3,593 1,303 36
31-40 1,601 609 38 626 151 24 2,227 759 34
41-50 1,554 542 35 651 138 21 2,205 681 31
51-60 1,453 391 27 573 69 12 2,026 460 23
61-70 1,041 149 14 516 31 6 1,557 180 12
>70 1,375 57 4 774 17 2 2,149 74 3
Total* 10,851 3,057 28 4,657 709 15 15,512 3,768 24
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Since the 1980s the percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent has declined more among 16-20 year-olds than among older drivers, but declines have leveled off for all ages. The percentage of fatally injured 16-20 year-old passenger vehicle drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent now is essentially the same as that for drivers over age 30.

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by driver age, 1982-2011

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by driver age, 1982-2011
Year16-20 years21-30 years>30 years
Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
1982 3,456 1,826 53 6,244 3,948 63 9,861 4,208 43
1983 3,326 1,681 51 6,053 3,859 64 9,845 3,943 40
1984 3,441 1,595 46 6,413 3,885 61 10,337 3,860 37
1985 3,227 1,260 39 6,263 3,659 58 10,441 3,713 36
1986 3,636 1,495 41 6,695 3,974 59 11,042 3,887 35
1987 3,630 1,315 36 6,802 3,975 58 11,579 4,016 35
1988 3,788 1,358 36 6,819 3,991 59 12,145 4,203 35
1989 3,536 1,225 35 6,475 3,675 57 12,401 4,272 34
1990 3,397 1,198 35 6,152 3,510 57 12,274 4,238 35
1991 3,021 1,044 35 5,623 3,183 57 11,801 3,993 34
1992 2,697 829 31 5,122 2,759 54 11,639 3,823 33
1993 2,805 795 28 5,065 2,658 52 12,038 3,851 32
1994 2,990 800 27 4,975 2,484 50 12,525 3,771 30
1995 2,983 725 24 5,081 2,585 51 13,247 4,155 31
1996 3,026 769 25 4,989 2,475 50 13,478 4,070 30
1997 3,036 774 25 4,775 2,275 48 13,777 4,004 29
1998 3,094 767 25 4,577 2,222 49 13,839 3,930 28
1999 3,261 849 26 4,653 2,260 49 13,870 3,866 28
2000 3,250 844 26 4,706 2,268 48 13,743 3,997 29
2001 3,247 823 25 4,735 2,358 50 13,790 4,005 29
2002 3,452 873 25 4,938 2,462 50 14,006 4,020 29
2003 3,260 858 26 4,852 2,308 48 13,957 3,930 28
2004 3,175 815 26 4,970 2,372 48 13,689 3,743 27
2005 2,985 734 25 5,067 2,492 49 13,809 3,852 28
2006 3,020 831 28 5,159 2,535 49 13,321 3,779 28
2007 2,728 766 28 5,028 2,592 52 12,697 3,675 29
2008 2,292 626 27 4,388 2,327 53 11,528 3,308 29
2009 2,049 609 30 3,870 2,020 52 10,869 3,156 29
2010 1,675 438 26 3,697 1,816 49 10,613 2,914 27
2011 1,720 485 28 3,593 1,736 48 10,164 2,816 28

When alcohol-impaired crashes occur

Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes peaks at night. Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., 60 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2011 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, compared with 18 percent during other hours.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with high BACs by nightime vs. other times, 2011
Time of day Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
9 p.m. - 6 a.m. 5,338 3,208 60 2,402 45
Other hours 10,174 1,838 18 1,366 13
Total 15,512 5,046 33 3,768 24

The three-hour period with the highest percentage of driver fatalities with BACs of 0.08 percent or higher is midnight to 3 a.m.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with high BACs by time of day, 2011
Time of day Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Midnight - 3 a.m. 2,113 1,476 70 1,118 53
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 1,386 747 54 527 38
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 1,832 279 15 209 11
9 a.m. - Noon 1,679 120 7 82 5
Noon - 3 p.m. 2,192 230 10 158 7
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 2,454 425 17 318 13
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 1,903 721 38 547 29
9 p.m. - Midnight 1,839 985 54 756 41
Total* 15,512 5,046 33 3,768 24
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-six percent of passenger vehicle drivers fatally injured on weekends (6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday) in 2011 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, compared with 24 percent at other times.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with high BACs by weekend vs. other times, 2011
Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Weekend (6 p.m. Friday - 6 a.m. Monday) 6,089 2,796 46 2,093 34
Other times 9,423 2,249 24 1,675 18
Total 15,512 5,046 33 3,768 24

Alcohol involvement is very high in fatal nighttime (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) single-vehicle crashes. In 2011, 69 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in these crashes had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. An additional 6 percent had BACs of 0.01 to 0.07 percent.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers by BAC, time, and crash type, 2011
Drivers killedEstimated drivers killed with BACs = 0Estimated drivers killed with 0.01 ≤ BACs ≤ 0.07Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%Number%Number%
Single vehicle Night 3,717 937 25 226 6 2,554 69 1,929 52
Day 4,384 2,956 67 168 4 1,260 29 965 22
Multiple vehicleNight 1,621 891 55 76 5 654 40 472 29
Day 5,676 5,007 88 155 3 514 9 349 6

References

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