In 2008, as compared to 2007, the overall fatality rate declined from 1.36 to 1.25 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT), and the alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate declined from 0.43 to 0.40 fatalities per 100 million VMT. From 2007 to 2008, the alcohol-impaired-driving fatality rate declined in 40 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and remained the same or increased in the remaining 10 States. An alcohol-impaired-driving crash is defined as a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. In all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, it is illegal per se to drive a vehicle or operate a motor-cycle with a BAC of .08 g/dL or above. This research note presents, by State, the fatality rates as well as the number of deaths in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in those States. ResultsThis research note uses the 2007 Final File and 2008 Annual Report File (ARF) of NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) as well as 2008 State VMT data that were provided to NHTSA by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to compute the fatality rate in alcohol-impaired crashes (alcohol-impaired fatality rate). (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting