Total and Alcohol-Related Fatality Rates by State,
2003-2004

Rajesh Subramanian

Summary

Fatality rates from traffic crashes related to alcohol declined in 33 States and the District of Columbia in 2004. Using the standard measurement of 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the alcohol-related fatality rate for the United States declined to 0.56 in 2004 from 0.59 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2003. The fatality rate remained flat or increased in 17 States and Puerto Rico during the same period.

In crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator who had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or above, the fatality rate declined in 32 States and the District of Columbia, and remained flat or increased in 18 States and Puerto Rico. The corresponding rate for the United States declined from 0.45 to 0.43 fatalities per 100 million VMT.

Results

The note uses the 2003 Final and 2004 Annual Report File (ARF) of NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) as well as the VMT data released by the FHWA to compute the rate of alcohol-related fatalities. Estimates of alcohol involvement are generated using BAC values reported to FARS and imputed BAC values when they are not reported. Fatalities are alcohol-related if they occur in crashes involving at least one driver, motorcycle operator, pedestrian, or pedalcyclist with a BAC of .01 g/dL or above. Also, since most impaired driving laws target drivers and motorcycle operators, fatalities that occur in crashes that involve at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 or above are also presented.

Figure 1 maps the rate of alcohol-related fatalities per 100 million VMT for each State in 2004. The States are color-coded as to whether their rates are at or above (yellow, red) the national rate of 0.56 or below (blue, green).

Figure 1: Alcohol-Related Fatalities per 100 Million VMT by State, 2004

Figure 2 maps the rate of fatalities in crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 or above. The States are color-coded as to whether their rates are at or above (yellow, red) the national rate of 0.43 or below (blue, green).

Figure 2: Fatalities per 100 Million VMT in Crashes Involving at Least One Driver or Motorcycle Operator with a BAC of .08 or Above, by State, 2004