What Percent of Fatalities on the Road Are Related to Alcohol?
Traffic fatalities are one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States, and alcohol-related accidents account for a large percentage of road deaths. Alcohol-related fatalities have decreased since the 1980s, but alcohol still plays a prominent role in traffic fatalities each year. Tougher laws and stricter enforcement of drinking and driving laws has helped decrease the annual number of deaths. Advocates of keeping intoxicated drivers off the road have helped in reducing fatalities by increasing awareness and education about alcohol consumption while driving motor vehicles.
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Significance
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 people die in alcohol-related road traffic accidents per day and another 700 are injured. Motor vehicle accidents rank among the leading causes of death in the United States each year, and about a third of these accidents are fueled by alcohol consumption. In 2007, 37 percent of road fatalities involved alcohol consumption by one of the drivers. This percentage has decreased significantly from 60 percent in 1982, but still accounts for more than a third of all traffic fatalities.
Size
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Alcohol-related deaths are a widespread occurrence throughout the United States as well as the rest of the world. In 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-related car crashes in the United States. In addition to traffic fatalities, alcohol-related accidents account for more than $51 billion in damages each year.
Geography
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All states are affected by fatalities from drinking and driving, but some states have significantly higher percentages of fatalities. According to alcoholalert.com, Texas experienced 1,544 fatalities linked to alcohol consumption accounting for 45 percent of traffic-related deaths in 2006. Other states with high percentages of alcohol-related deaths include South Carolina at 46 percent, Wisconsin at 49 percent, Hawaii at 48 percent and Montana at 45 percent.
Identification
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In order for alcohol to be considered a factor in fatal traffic accidents, one of the motor vehicle operators must have a blood alcohol level (BAC) at or above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Any BAC higher than the legal limit is a traffic violation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Prevention/Solution
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Education, stricter laws and law enforcement helped lower the number of fatalities since the 1980s. Founded in 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has been a leading force in advocating for stricter drinking and driving laws. Their mission statement is simple: "Stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking." The simplest way to help prevent alcohol-related driving fatalities is to never get behind the wheel of a car if you have been drinking. Call a friend, relative or taxi for a sober ride home.
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