3. The Driver/Motorcycle Operator Who Had Alcohol
In 2003, there were 14,260 drivers/motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes who had alcohol. Of these drivers/motorcycle operators, two-thirds or 9,649 were fatally injured.
This section will highlight some of the driver-related and behavioral characteristics of the drivers/motorcycle operators who had alcohol. The factors analyzed are restraint use by the driver, speeding, recidivism, and age of the drivers/motorcycle operators.
3.1.1 Restraint Use
The use of restraints (safety belts and motorcycle helmets) and severity of injuries of drivers involved in fatal crashes by their alcohol involvement is depicted in table 10.
Table 10: Drivers/Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes by Injury Severity,
Alcohol Involvement and Restraint Use, 2003
Injury Severity |
Unrestrained |
Restrained |
Total |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Drivers with Alcohol | ||||||
| Survived | 1,863 |
40% |
2,748 |
60% |
4,611 |
100% |
| Fatally Injured | 6,935 |
72% |
2,714 |
28% |
9,649 |
100% |
| Total | 8,797 |
62% |
5,463 |
38% |
14,260 |
100% |
| Drivers with No Alcohol | ||||||
| Survived | 3,632 |
14% |
23,273 |
86% |
26,905 |
100% |
| Fatally Injured | 7,636 |
45% |
9,355 |
55% |
16,991 |
100% |
| Total | 11,269 |
26% |
32,627 |
74% |
43,896 |
100% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Totals may not equal previously reported totals as occupants whose restraint use was coded as “Unknown” were prorated between the restraint used and unused categories. The prorated fatality counts have been rounded to the nearest integer. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
About 72 percent (or 6,935 drivers) of all fatally injured drivers with alcohol were unrestrained, i.e., they were not using safety belts/motorcycle helmets. This compares to 45 percent (or 7,636 drivers) of all fatally injured drivers who had no alcohol and were unrestrained. Among all drivers with alcohol, about 62 percent were unrestrained while only 26 percent of the drivers with no alcohol were unrestrained.
3.1.2 Speeding
Annually, about 32 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities occur in crashes that are speeding-related, i.e., at least one of the drivers involved in the crash exceeded the posted speed limit or was driving too fast for the prevailing conditions. Table 11 shows drivers/motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes classified by alcohol involvement and whether the driver was cited for speeding. As seen in table 11, 43 percent of the fatally injured drivers with alcohol were also speeding. This compares to 23 percent of the fatally injured drivers with no alcohol who were also speeding. Also, 91 percent of the surviving drivers with no alcohol were not speeding as compared to 69 percent of the surviving drivers with alcohol.
Table 11: Drivers/Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes by Injury Severity,
Alcohol Involvement and Speeding, 2003
| Injury Severity | Speeding |
Not Speeding |
Total |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Drivers with Alcohol | ||||||
| Survived | 1,412 |
31% |
3,200 |
69% |
4,611 |
100% |
| Fatally Injured | 4,177 |
43% |
5,473 |
57% |
9,649 |
100% |
| Total | 5,588 |
39% |
8,672 |
61% |
14,260 |
100% |
| Drivers with No Alcohol | ||||||
| Survived | 2,536 |
9% |
24,370 |
91% |
26,905 |
100% |
| Fatally Injured | 3,827 |
23% |
13,163 |
77% |
16,991 |
100% |
| Total | 6,363 |
14% |
37,533 |
86% |
43,896 |
100% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Totals may not equal previously reported totals as occupants whose restraint use was coded as “Unknown” were prorated between the restraint used and unused categories. The prorated fatality counts have been rounded to the nearest integer. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
3.1.3 Age of the Driver
In 2003, as a proportion of all drivers involved in fatal crashes for a given age, drivers who were 21 years old had the highest percentage with alcohol at 39 percent. Figure 2 depicts the distribution of this percentage with age.
Figure 2: Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Age who had alcohol as a Proportion of all Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Age, 2003
Table 12 depicts the average and median ages among drivers involved in fatal crashes by their alcohol involvement. The median, average, 25th percentile and 75th percentile age of drivers involved in fatal crashes who had alcohol are lower than those of drivers involved without alcohol. The median age of drivers involved in fatal crashes who had alcohol is 32 as compared to 39 for drivers involved in fatal crashes who did not have alcohol. Thus, of drivers involved in fatal crashes, drivers who had alcohol are younger overall than drivers who had no alcohol. As shown in table 13, of drivers involved in fatal crashes, those 21 to 24 were most likely to be intoxicated, followed by drivers 25 to 34.
Table 12: Distribution of Age of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by
Their Alcohol Involvement, 2003
Quartile |
Age of Driver |
|
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Involved | No Alcohol Involved | |
| 25th Percentile | 23 |
25 |
| Average Age | 35 |
42 |
| Median Age | 32 |
39 |
| 75th Percentile | 44 |
54 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||
Table 13: Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Age, 2003
| Driver's Age | Total |
No Alcohol |
BAC=.01-.07 |
BAC=.08+ |
BAC=.01+ |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| 16-20 | 7,693 |
100% |
5,859 |
76% |
388 |
5% |
1,446 |
19% |
1,834 |
24% |
| 21-24 | 6,234 |
100% |
3,879 |
62% |
345 |
6% |
2,010 |
32% |
2,355 |
38% |
| 25-34 | 11,218 |
100% |
7,734 |
69% |
501 |
5% |
2,983 |
27% |
3,485 |
31% |
| 35-44 | 10,967 |
100% |
7,932 |
72% |
424 |
4% |
2,611 |
24% |
3,035 |
28% |
| 45-64 | 14,379 |
100% |
11615 |
81% |
440 |
3% |
2,324 |
16% |
2,764 |
19% |
| 65+ | 6,388 |
100% |
5,866 |
92% |
122 |
2% |
400 |
6% |
522 |
8% |
| Unknown | 1,277 |
100% |
1,011 |
79% |
44 |
3% |
222 |
17% |
266 |
21% |
| Total | 58,156 |
100% |
43,896 |
76% |
2,264 |
4% |
11,996 |
21% |
14,260 |
25% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||||||
As seen in table 13, alcohol involvement among drivers involved in fatal crashes is the highest for drivers 21 to 24. In fact, about 38 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in this age group had some alcohol. Drivers 65 and older had the least extent of alcohol involvement. Also, less than 9 percent of all drivers 65 and older had some alcohol.
Table 14 depicts the extent of alcohol involvement among drivers in fatal crashes by age.
Table 14: Distribution of BAC of Drivers With Alcohol Involved in Fatal Crashes by
The Age of the Driver, 2003
Driver Age |
25th Percentile |
Average BAC |
Median BAC |
75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-20 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.19 |
| 21-24 | 0.10 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.20 |
| 25-34 | 0.11 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.21 |
| 35-44 | 0.11 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.23 |
| 45-64 | 0.10 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| 65+ | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.20 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||
The average BAC is the lowest among drivers age 16 to 20, followed by drivers above age 65. The highest median BAC is for drivers age 35 to 44.
3.1.4 Recidivism (Repeat Offenses)
Recidivism, with respect to impaired driving, is coded in FARS in terms of the number of prior DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) convictions in the previous three years for the driver. Table 15 presents the extent of alcohol involvement among drivers with prior DWI convictions (Recidivistic) and those with no prior DWI convictions.
Table 15: Distribution of Age of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Their Alcohol Involvement, 2003
| Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes | TOTAL |
BAC=.01+ |
BAC=.08+ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Prior DWI Convictions | ||||||
| None | 54,304 |
100% |
12,581 |
23% |
10,511 |
19% |
| Yes (Recidivistic) | 1,670 |
100% |
1,103 |
66% |
1,005 |
60% |
| Unknown | 2,182 |
100% |
576 |
26% |
480 |
22% |
| Total | 58,156 |
100% |
14,260 |
25% |
11,996 |
21% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
In 2003, two-thirds of drivers who had prior DWI convictions and were involved in fatal crashes had alcohol. While 3 percent [1,670/58,156] of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were known to have a previous DWI conviction, close to 8 percent [1,103/14,260] of the drivers who had alcohol were also found to have had a previous DWI conviction. In addition, among the recidivistic drivers with alcohol, more than 90 percent [1,005/1,103] were intoxicated (BAC=.08+). This seems to indicate that there is a high likelihood that drivers involved in fatal crashes who had a prior DWI conviction will have had alcohol.
Table 16 summarizes the number of drivers with one or more prior DWI convictions who were involved in fatal crashes.
Table 16: Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes and Number of Fatalities Involving One or More Drivers With Prior DWI Convictions Who Had Alcohol, 2003
| Crashes/Fatalities | Alcohol-Related |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | Involving One or More Drivers with Prior DWI Conviction Who Had Alcohol | % of Total | |
| Crashes | 15,251 |
1,100 |
7.2% |
| Fatalities | 17,013 |
1,240 |
7.3% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
|||
Figure 3 depicts the distribution of BAC levels among drivers involved in fatal crashes given recidivism status. The percentages shown in figure 3 are the number of drivers at that BAC level as a proportion of all drivers who had any alcohol. The relative frequencies differ from each other in that for drivers with one or more prior DWI convictions, the distribution is skewed to the right. This indicates that recidivistic drivers involved in fatal crashes tend to have more alcohol (higher BAC) as compared to drivers with no previous DWI convictions.
Figure 3: Relative Frequency of BAC Among Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by
Prior DWI Convictions, 2003
Table 17 further illustrates this difference by providing the descriptive statistics on BAC for the two groups of drivers. Table 17 shows that when drivers with previous DWI convictions have alcohol, the BAC level is higher than those drivers with no prior DWI convictions. In fact, the median BAC among recidivistic drivers is .19 g/dL -.03 g/dL above the median BAC for the non-recidivistic drivers.
Table 17: Distribution of BAC of Drivers with Alcohol Involved in Fatal Crashes by
Prior DWI Convictions, 2003
| Quartile | BAC (g/dL) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Driver with One or More Previous DWI Convictions | Driver with No Prior DWI Convictions | |
| 25th Percentile | 0.13 |
0.10 |
| Average BAC | 0.19 |
0.16 |
| Median BAC | 0.19 |
0.16 |
| 75th Percentile | 0.24 |
0.21 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||
This section will highlight some of the vehicle-related factors that are correlated with impaired drivers/motorcycle operators. Of interest is the occurrence of rollover crashes by the type of vehicles that were being driven by the driver with alcohol.
3.2.1 Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers by Vehicle Type
Table 18 depicts the proportion of drivers involved who had alcohol by the type of vehicle they were driving.
Table 18: Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Type of Vehicle, 2003
| Vehicle Type | BAC=.01+ |
BAC=.08+ |
Total |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | |
| Passenger Cars | 6,817 |
26% |
5,749 |
22% |
26,030 |
| Vans | 595 |
16% |
497 |
13% |
3,688 |
| SUVs | 1,814 |
25% |
1,530 |
21% |
7,195 |
| Pickups | 3,164 |
29% |
2,730 |
25% |
10,955 |
| Other/Unknown LTV | 9 |
9% |
7 |
7% |
106 |
| Large Trucks | 95 |
2% |
64 |
1% |
4,608 |
| Motorcycles | 1,351 |
36% |
1,077 |
29% |
3,749 |
| Buses | 15 |
5% |
11 |
4% |
288 |
| Other Vehicles | 187 |
31% |
155 |
26% |
604 |
| Unknown Vehicles | 213 |
23% |
176 |
19% |
933 |
| Total | 14,260 |
25% |
11,996 |
21% |
58,156 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
|||||
As a proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes, motorcycle riders had the highest number who had alcohol at 36 percent. This compares to 26 percent for drivers of passenger cars, 25 percent for drivers of SUVs, 29 percent for drivers of pickup trucks and 16 percent for the drivers of vans. A similar trend was observed for the proportion of drivers who were intoxicated (BAC=.08+). Figure 4 depicts the distribution of BAC, conditional on driver having a positive BAC, by the type of vehicle.
Figure 4: Distribution of BAC Among Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Vehicle Type, 2003
As seen in figure 4, the distribution of BAC among drivers with alcohol involved in fatal crashes is almost the same for all passenger vehicles while that for drivers of Large Trucks is skewed to the left. This implies that when drivers of large trucks are found to have alcohol, the alcohol level is less than those for drivers of passenger vehicles and motorcycles.
Table 19 further illustrates this difference by providing the univariate measures on BAC between the drivers by the type of vehicle they were driving.
Table 19: Distribution of BAC of Drivers with Alcohol Involved in Fatal Crashes by
the Type of Vehicle, 2003
| Vehicle Type | 25th Percentile |
Average BAC |
Median BAC |
75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Cars | .10 |
.16 |
.16 |
.21 |
| Vans | .10 |
.17 |
.16 |
.22 |
| SUVs | .10 |
.16 |
.16 |
.21 |
| Pickup Trucks | .11 |
.17 |
.17 |
.22 |
| Large Trucks | .05 |
.12 |
.10 |
.17 |
| Motorcycles | .09 |
.14 |
.14 |
.20 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||
As shown in table 19, the median BAC level among drivers with alcohol involved in fatal crashes was the highest for drivers of pickup trucks (.17 g/dL) and the lowest for drivers of large trucks (.10 g/dL). Motorcycle operators, when they had any alcohol, had lower median and average BAC levels as compared to drivers of passenger vehicles.
3.2.2 Rollover
Rollover crashes are complex events that can be driver-, vehicle-, or environment-related. Driving under the influence of alcohol could be one of the significant driver-related factors that can contribute to rollover of a vehicle. Table 20 illustrates this by depicting the extent of rollover between drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes who had any alcohol and those who had no alcohol.
Table 20: Drivers of Passenger Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Alcohol Involvement and Rollover Occurrence, 2003
| Rollover Occurrence | No Alcohol |
Alcohol |
Total |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| No Rollover | 30,095 |
85% |
7,809 |
63% |
37,904 |
79% |
| Rollover | 5,480 |
15% |
4,590 |
37% |
10,070 |
21% |
| Total | 35,576 |
100% |
12,399 |
100% |
47,974 |
100% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
As seen in table 20, 37 percent of all drivers who had any alcohol were also involved in a rollover crash as compared to 15 percent of drivers who did not have any alcohol.
3.3 Environment-Related Factors
This section will highlight some of the environment-related factors that are correlated with impaired drivers/motorcycle operators. Of interest is the extent of alcohol involvement by the time of the day, day of the week, location (rural/urban), etc.
3.3.1 Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers by Time of the Day
Table 21 depicts the extent of alcohol involvement among drivers involved in fatal crashes by the time of the day (day/night). A driver involved in a fatal crash during nighttime is about four times more likely to have alcohol as compared to a driver involved in a daytime fatal crash. Daytime crashes have been defined here as crashes that occur between 6 a.m. and 5:59 p.m. Crashes that occur between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. are defined as nighttime crashes.
Table 21: Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Their Alcohol Involvement and
Time of the Day, 2003
Time of Day |
Total |
BAC=.01+ |
BAC=.08+ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Day | 31,659 | 100% | 3,215 | 10% | 2,481 | 8% |
| Night | 26,102 | 100% | 10,811 | 41% | 9,313 | 36% |
| Unknown | 395 | 100% | 235 | 59% | 203 | 51% |
| Total | 58,156 | 100% | 14,260 | 25% | 11,996 | 21% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
Table 22 disaggregates the alcohol involvement among drivers involved in nighttime crashes by the time period.
Table 22: Drivers Involved in Nighttime Fatal Crashes by
Their Alcohol Involvement, 2003
| Time of Day | Total | BAC=.01+ | BAC=.08+ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| 6 - 9 p.m. | 8,770 |
100% |
2,413 |
28% |
1,996 |
23% |
| 9 p.m. - Midnight | 7,424 |
100% |
3,019 |
41% |
2,600 |
35% |
| Midnight – 3 a.m. | 6,013 |
100% |
3,644 |
61% |
3,226 |
54% |
| 3 – 6 a.m. | 3,895 |
100% |
1,734 |
45% |
1,490 |
38% |
| Total | 26,102 |
100% |
10,811 |
41% |
9,313 |
36% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
About 61 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes between midnight and 3 a.m. had alcohol as compared to only 28 percent of the drivers involved in crashes between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. More than 40 percent of drivers involved in crashes between 9 p.m. and midnight and between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. had alcohol.
It is clear from the data that drivers involved in fatal nighttime crashes are more likely to have alcohol as compared to drivers involved in daytime crashes. In fact, more than three-fourths of drivers who had alcohol were those involved in nighttime crashes.
3.3.2 Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers by Day of the Week
Table 23 presents data on the extent of alcohol involvement among drivers involved in fatal crashes by the day of the week, i.e., a weekday or a weekend and the time of the day.
Table 23: Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Their Alcohol Involvement,
Time of the Day and the Day of the Week, 2003
Day of the Week and Time of the Day |
Total |
BAC=.01+ |
BAC=.08+ |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
| Weekday | Daytime | 22,807 |
100% |
1,817 |
8% |
1,390 |
6% |
| 6 - 9 p.m. | 4,383 |
100% |
1,004 |
23% |
816 |
19% |
|
| 9 p.m. - Midnight | 3,514 |
100% |
1,316 |
37% |
1,150 |
33% |
|
| Midnight – 3 a.m. | 2,330 |
100% |
1,325 |
57% |
1,178 |
51% |
|
| 3 – 6 a.m. | 1,766 |
100% |
577 |
33% |
497 |
28% |
|
| Unknown | 118 |
100% |
54 |
46% |
45 |
38% |
|
| Total | 34,918 |
100% |
6,092 |
17% |
5,076 |
15% |
|
| Weekend | Daytime | 8,852 |
100% |
1,398 |
16% |
1,091 |
12% |
| 6 - 9 p.m. | 4,387 |
100% |
1,409 |
32% |
1,180 |
27% |
|
| 9 p.m. - Midnight | 3,910 |
100% |
1,704 |
44% |
1,451 |
37% |
|
| Midnight –3 a.m. | 3,683 |
100% |
2,319 |
63% |
2,048 |
56% |
|
| 3 – 6 a.m. | 2,129 |
100% |
1,158 |
54% |
993 |
47% |
|
| Unknown | 168 |
100% |
120 |
71% |
106 |
63% |
|
| Total | 23,129 |
100% |
8,108 |
35% |
6,869 |
30% |
|
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and Percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
|||||||
Overall, 17 percent of all drivers involved in a fatal crash during a weekday had alcohol as compared to 35 percent of those who were involved in a crash during the weekend. Irrespective of if it was a weekday or a weekend, the time period between midnight and 3 a.m. involved the highest proportion of drivers who had alcohol. About 63 percent of drivers in weekend crashes between midnight and 3 a.m. had alcohol as compared to 57 percent of the drivers in the same time period during weekdays. Also for the time period between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., if the crash occurred on a weekend, an involved driver is more likely to have alcohol as compared to drivers in crashes that occurred during the same time period during a weekday.
3.3.2 Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers by Location (Rural or Urban)
Table 24 presents data on the extent of alcohol involvement among drivers involved in fatal crashes by the location of the crash, i.e., if it occurred in a rural or urban area.
Table 24: Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Their Alcohol
Involvement and Location, 2003
Location |
Total |
BAC=.01+ |
BAC=.08+ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Rural | 33,448 |
100% |
8,449 |
25% |
7,120 |
21% |
| Urban | 24,246 |
100% |
5,716 |
24% |
4,799 |
20% |
| Unknown | 462 |
100% |
96 |
21% |
78 |
17% |
| Total | 58,156 |
100% |
14,260 |
25% |
11,996 |
21% |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF. Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||||
The extent of drivers who had alcohol does not differ significantly if the crash occurred in a rural or urban location. For both locations, about 25 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol. The distributions are very similar for the two classes of drivers.
Figure 5: Distribution of BAC Among Drivers Involved in
Fatal Crashes by Location, 2003
Table 25 further illustrates this lack of significant difference by providing the univariate measures on BAC between the drivers by location.
Table 25: Distribution of BAC of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes With
Alcohol by Location, 2003
Location |
25th Percentile |
Average BAC |
Median BAC |
75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural | 0.10 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.22 |
| Urban | 0.10 |
0.16 |
0.15 |
0.21 |
| Source: NCSA FARS 2003 ARF Note: Numbers and percentages may not add to total due to independent rounding. |
||||
As shown in table 25, the median BAC level among drivers involved in fatal crashes was marginally higher for drivers involved in rural areas (.16 g/dL) as compared to drivers involved in fatal crashes in urban areas (.15 g/dL).