NCJ Number
199484
Date Published
December 2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This document discusses trends in alcohol-related fatal traffic crashes in the United States from 1977 to 2000.
Abstract
Data were compiled from sources provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S. Census Bureau. Results show that in 2000 the proportion of traffic crash fatalities that were alcohol-related increased to 31 percent from the 24-year low of 30 percent in 1999. The number of alcohol-involved drivers in fatal traffic crashes increased 4 percent for males and 7 percent for females from their 24-year low in 1999. From 1999 to 2000, alcohol-related traffic crash fatalities increased 4 percent, while non-alcohol-related traffic crash fatalities decreased 1 percent. From 1977 to 2000 the number of male drivers involved in alcohol-related fatal traffic crashes decreased 29 percent; for females the number increased 13 percent. In 2000, the national blood alcohol concentration (BAC) testing rate of drivers killed in traffic crashes was 74 percent, up from 55 percent in 1977. In 2000, deaths associated with young drinking drivers ages 16 to 24 increased about 5 percent from 1999, although the number was only half of the total in 1977. From 1999 to 2000 the number of young drinking drivers ages 16 to 24 killed in traffic crashes increased 3 percent, while the 2000, total was 48 percent lower than in 1977. Drivers ages 21 to 24 had the highest proportion of alcohol involvement among all age groups. This pattern remained the same during the study period, with the proportion being 34.5 percent in 1977 and 32.2. percent in 2000. From 1977 to 2000 the proportion of alcohol involvement among young drivers ages 16 to 20 in fatal traffic crashes decreased 9 percentage points. The 2000 proportion represents an increase of one percentage point from the 24-year low of 19.5 percent in 1999. 7 figures, 14 tables, 56 references