NCJ Number
228290
Date Published
August 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
In addition to documenting the number of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in the United States for 2007-2008, this report provides information on driver gender and the States where the fatal crashes occurred.
Abstract
This analysis was occasioned by recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that showed a recent increase in the number of female drivers arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. The FBI's recent report, Crime in the United States, indicated a 28.8-percent increase in the number of women arrested for driving under the influence over a 10-year period (1998-2007). In 2008, 9,175 alcohol-impaired male drivers were involved in fatal crashes. The number of male drivers involved in DUI fatal crashes increased in 11 States from 2007, decreased in 37 States and the District of Columbia, and remained unchanged in 2 States. In 2008, 1,650 female drivers were involved in DUI fatal crashes in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. From 2007, 10 States showed an increase in the number of females drivers involved in DUI fatal crashes, 36 States and the District of Columbia showed a decrease, and the number remained unchanged in 5 States. Compared to alcohol-impaired male drivers, a slightly higher percentage of alcohol-impaired female drivers had one or more passengers riding with them at the time of the crashes, 31 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Compared to alcohol-impaired male drives, a marginally higher percentage of alcohol-impaired female drivers had child passengers riding with them at the time of the crashes. 1 figure and 6 tables