Executive Summary

In 2003, a total of 38,252 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes were recorded in the United States that accounted for 42,643 fatalities. Of these crashes, an estimated 40 percent were alcohol-related, i.e., at least one driver, pedestrian, or pedalcyclist had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater. Alcohol-related crashes accounted for about 40 percent of all fatalities in traffic crashes.

About 25 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol, i.e., their BAC was .01 or greater (.01+).

In crashes involving at least one driver/motorcycle operator with alcohol, about 82 percent of the fatalities occurred to the impaired driver/motorcycle operator or to persons riding with them.

There were 1,351 motorcycle operators with alcohol involved in fatal crashes. There were 1,386 fatalities in such crashes. In crashes involving at least one motorcycle operator with alcohol, about 90 percent of the fatalities occurred to motorcycle operators who themselves had alcohol.
About three-fourths, or 6,935 drivers, of all fatally injured drivers with alcohol were also unrestrained or unprotected, i.e., they were not using safety belts/motorcycle helmets.

About 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.

The median age of drivers involved in fatal crashes who had alcohol is lower than that of drivers without alcohol. The median age of drivers involved in fatal crashes with alcohol is 32 as compared to 39 for drivers involved in fatal crashes without alcohol.

More than two-thirds of drivers involved in fatal crashes with one or more previous DWI convictions had alcohol. While 3 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were known to have a previous DWI conviction, close to 8 percent of the drivers who had alcohol also had a previous DWI conviction. Also, among the recidivistic drivers with alcohol, more than 90 percent were intoxicated (BAC=.08+).

About 37 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes who had any alcohol were also involved in a rollover crash as compared to 15 percent of drivers who were involved in a rollover crash and did not have any alcohol.

Fatally injured passengers who were riding with a driver with alcohol were likely to be in the same age group as the driver.

About 36 percent of all nonoccupants who died in traffic crashes had alcohol (BAC=.01+).