What % of intoxicated (.08 bac+) drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents as compared to sober drivers?

Question

What percentage of intoxicated (.08 bac +) drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents as compared to the percentage of sober drivers involved in accidents?

Answer 1

"Nationally, 12.8% of all drivers involved in fatal accidents during 2001 are known to have been intoxicated according to the BAC laws of their state. This number is based on a systematic examination of the official records of each and every accident involving a fatality during that year in the US. It is based on factual evidence rather than on estimates or even guesses.

The higher number (about 39%) commonly reported in the press refers to accidents in which there was believed to have been some alcohol consumed by anyone associated with the accident. For example, if a person who was believed to have consumed any alcohol is stopped at a red light and is rear-ended by an inattentive completely sober driver, that accident is considered to be alcohol-related."
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/1066933326.html

Here are some interesting facts about drinking and driving that you wouldn't see in your local newspaper:
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/index.html

New DWI/DUI Law Unconstitutional?
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/1125426688.html

Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities: Redistributing Death
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/1059050242.html

Answer 2

While there are many statistics out there I would not trust any of them. Here are my reasoning.

1. In some remote areas it may take up to 30 min. before the police even arrive. This person has been able to sober up a bit.

2. It would be impossible to know how many hit and runs were under the influence. Although I bet a high number of them are.

3. There are some people that would rather go to jail without a test then with a test.

4. How many of these drivers are very good at covering up the fact they are drunk. I know my uncle did this a few times (I don't support him on it) he could convince anyone he was sober and always carried stuff to cover his breath and lower the breathalyzer results.

So I am sure the statistics would actually be very much lower then the actual truth. I say drink and drive then drink water behind bars.

Answer 3

Having just taken a Defensive Driving course for the Insurance discount, my recollection is that intoxicated drivers 4-6 times as likely to be involved in an accident compared to sober ones.

Answer 4

I have heard that on average 40% of traffic fatalities on US roads are alcohol related,which if true would be around 20,000 deaths annually. However there is some debate on the way the numbers are recorded,since Blood Alcohol levels well below the legal limit will in fact get your accident listed as an alcohol related crash in statistics even if you were never cited.

AD

Answer 5

I think it is impossible to determine, because you do not know how many drunk drivers (.08+) are out on the road. You only know about the ones that crash. Not the amount of drunk drivers who make it home. Using laws of probability you can make an approximation but thats about it.