In 1996, 17,126 people were killed in the United States as a result of alcohol-related traffic crashes -- an average of one every 32 minutes. These deaths constituted approximately 41 percent of the 41,097 total number of traffic fatalities which occurred in 1996. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (1997). Fatal Accident Reporting System. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)

The following states or territories had traffic fatalities in which 50 percent or more of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related: Alaska, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington. (Ibid.)

In 1997, 20 percent (184) of children under age 5 killed in traffic fatalities were killed in alcohol-related fatalities; 16.7 percent (134) children age 5-9; 23.3 percent (248) children age 10-14; and 34 percent (1,771) adolescents age 15-19 were killed in alcohol-related fatalities. (Ibid.)

In addition, in 1997, 55.4 percent (2,890) of persons age 20-24 killed in traffic fatalities were killed in alcohol-related fatalities; 57.8 percent (2,329) of persons age 25-29; 58.4 percent (2,088) of persons age 30-34; and 55.6 percent (1,959) of persons age 35-39 were killed in alcohol-related fatalities. Over age 40, drunk driving-related fatalities steadily decrease from 51.3 percent of all traffic fatalities (1,533) for persons age 40-44 to 11.9 percent (461) for persons 75 years and older. (Ibid.)

It is estimated that 1,058,990 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes in 1995. On an average, one person is injured as a

result of alcohol impaired driving every 30 seconds. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (1996). Fatal Accident Reporting System. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)

About two in every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (1995). Fatal Accident Reporting System. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)

The highest number of traffic fatalities to occur in 1995 on a "single" day holiday was on Saint Patrick's Day (68.1 percent). (Ibid.)

Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. (Summary of Statistics: The Impaired Driving Problem. (1996). Irving, TX: Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Office.)

Direct costs of alcohol-related crashes are estimated at $45 billion yearly. It is also estimated that an additional $70.5 billion is lost in quality of life due to alcohol-related crashes. (Miller T. R. & Blincoe, L. J. (1994). "Incidence and Cost of Alcohol-involved Crashes," pp. 583-59. Accident Analysis & Prevention, Vol 26, Number 5.)

Every weekday night from 10 p.m. to

1 a.m., one in 13 drivers is drunk (BAC of .08 or more). Between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., on weekend mornings, one in seven drivers is drunk. (Ibid., 1996 update)

Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age from six through 28. Almost half of these crashes are alcohol-related. (Ibid.)

Note: OVC makes no representation concerning the accuracy of data from non-Department of Justice sources.