For 70 percent of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, at least one driver in the crash had a BAC of .15 grams per deciliter or higher. The most frequently recorded BAC among all drinking drivers in fatal crashes in 2010 was .18 g/dL, more than twice the legal limit in every State. One alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred, on average, every 51 minutes during 2010. The age group with the highest percentage of drivers with BACs of .08 or higher was 21 to 24 years old. When looking at drivers by the type of vehicle, motorcycle riders had the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers in fatal crashes in 2010 was four times higher at night than during the day. Sixteen percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes during the week were alcohol-impaired, compared to 31 percent on weekends. Drivers with BACs of .08 or higher involved in fatal crashes were four times more likely to have prior DWI (driving while impaired) convictions than were drivers with no alcohol. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting