![Chart depicting the 20 Year Trend of Intoxicated Drivers Involved in Fatal Accidents](images/20yeartrend.jpg)
ALCOHOL FACTOR
There were 741 fatalities during 1998.
Of the fatalities, 403 were drivers, 163 were passengers,
156 were pedestrians and 19 were pedalcyclists. Of this
total, 579 were tested for alcohol and 162 were not tested.
Of the 579 tested, 159 were positive for alcohol in varying
degrees and 386 were negative. This indicates that 27.4%
of the fatalities tested were positive for alcohol and 66.6%
were negative. Twenty-five drivers, four passengers, four
pedestrians and one pedalcyclists tested positive for drugs.
In 134 of the 671 accidents, Driving While Intoxicated
was listed as the major contributing factor (includes 3
"drunken bicyclists").
There were 144 people killed as a result of these 134
accidents.
1.) Drivers: There were a total of 403 drivers
killed of which 342 were tested. Of those tested, 95 were
positive and 222 were negative, indicating 27.7% had consumed
an alcoholic beverage. Of the 95 imbibing drivers, 71 or
74.7% had an alcohol level of .10% or higher. Twenty-five
deceased drivers tested positive for drugs.
Surviving: There were a total of 673 surviving
drivers of which 195 were tested. Of those, 56 were positive
and 135 were negative, indicating 28.7% had consumed an
alcoholic beverage. Of the 56 imbibing drivers, 45 or 80.3%
had an alcohol level of .10% or higher. Four surviving drivers
tested positive for drugs.
2.) Passengers: There were a total
of 163 passengers killed of which 98 were tested. Of those
tested, 24 were positive and 70 negative, indicating 24.4%
had consumed an alcoholic beverage. Four passengers tested
positive for drugs.
3.) Pedestrians: There were a total
of 156 pedestrians killed of which 125 were tested. Of those
tested, 36 were positive and 85 were negative for an alcohol
factor of 28.8%. Four pedestrians tested positive for drugs.
4.) Pedalcyclists: There were a
total of 19 pedalcyclists killed of which 14 were tested.
Of those tested, 4 were positive and 9 were negative, indicating
that 28.5% had consumed an alcoholic beverage. One pedalcyclist
tested positive for drugs.
SURVIVING DRIVER ALCOHOL FACTORS
|
|
.01 - .04%
|
.05 - .09%
|
.10 - .14%
|
.15 & over
|
Negative
|
No Test
|
Total
|
Drivers
|
4
|
7
|
22
|
23
|
135
|
476
|
667
|
NOTE: Four surviving drivers tested positive for
drugs and two surviving drivers were listed as "Had been
drinking."
EVALUATION:
1998 showed slight decrease in alcohol-related fatalities,
continuing the downward trend. The number of fatal accident
victims with blood alcohol readings above .10% decreased
from 126 in 1997 to 110 in 1998, a decrease of 12.6%. Deceased
drivers showed a slight decrease when compared to 1997.
Of those drivers tested in each category, deceased drivers
showed a decrease of 7.7% and surviving drivers showed an
increase of 15.3% in the .10% and over category.
VICTIM ALCOHOL FACTOR 1994
- 1998 COMPARISON
|
|
|
.01% - .04%
|
.05% - .09%
|
.10% - .14%
|
.15% and Over
|
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998 |
Drivers
|
12
|
18
|
13
|
22
|
18
|
6
|
19
|
8
|
9
|
6
|
25
|
21
|
24
|
19
|
17
|
77
|
62
|
61
|
58
|
54 |
Passengers
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
8
|
5
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
7
|
7
|
4
|
8
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
18
|
10
|
15
|
7
|
10 |
Pedestrians
|
5
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
8
|
8
|
6
|
6
|
28
|
27
|
32
|
29
|
19 |
Pedalcyclists
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
2 |
TOTAL
|
20
|
29
|
27
|
37
|
31
|
20
|
28
|
15
|
18
|
18
|
34
|
38
|
37
|
30
|
25
|
129
|
103
|
108
|
96
|
85 |
|
Had been drinking
|
Negative
|
No Test
|
TOTAL
|
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998 |
Drivers
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
205
|
227
|
238
|
222
|
222
|
52
|
77
|
82
|
59
|
60
|
379
|
425
|
427
|
391
|
378 |
Passengers
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
106
|
87
|
72
|
89
|
70
|
58
|
37
|
65
|
82
|
64
|
195
|
152
|
170
|
198
|
159 |
Pedestrians
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
88
|
90
|
92
|
74
|
85
|
34
|
29
|
33
|
24
|
30
|
168
|
162
|
173
|
141
|
152 |
Pedalcyclists
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
7
|
9
|
10
|
10
|
9
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
19
|
22
|
16
|
21
|
18 |
TOTAL
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
3
|
406
|
413
|
412
|
395
|
386
|
149
|
149
|
184
|
170
|
159
|
761
|
761
|
786
|
751
|
707 |
Victim Alcohol Factors - 1998
|
.01% - .04%
|
.05% - .09%
|
.10% - .14%
|
.15% & Over
|
Had been drinking
|
Negative
|
Not tested
|
TOTAL
|
Drivers
|
18
|
6
|
17
|
54
|
1
|
222
|
60
|
378
|
Passengers
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
10
|
1
|
70
|
64
|
159
|
Pedestrians
|
7
|
4
|
6
|
19
|
1
|
85
|
30
|
152
|
Pedalcyclists
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
9
|
5
|
18
|
TOTAL
|
31
|
18
|
25
|
85
|
3
|
386
|
159
|
707
|
LEGEND: Had been drinking: includes those
delayed deaths where an odor of alcohol was detected. Includes
admittance of victim (in delayed death) or statements of
witnesses. Includes lab reports which show a trace and not
a percentage, or reading below 0.01%.
NEGATIVE: Tested and found to be negative.
NO TEST: Because of delayed death, age factor,
contamination of samples, and the failure on the part of
some investigative agencies and medical examiners to cause
a test to be performed on victims.
NOTE: Twenty-five drivers, four passengers,
four pedestrians and one pedalcyclist tested positive for
drugs
|