Drunk Driving

Highway death statistics show 17,419 fatalities in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in 2002. (National Commission Against Drunk Driving. 2003. Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes: 2002. Washington, DC.)

This accounts for 41 percent of total traffic fatalities in 2002 and demonstrates there is about 1 alcohol-related fatality every 30 minutes. (Ibid.)

In 2002, more than half of children under the age of 15 killed in alcohol-related crashes were passengers in cars where the driver had been drinking. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2003. Traffic Safety Facts 2002: Children. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)

Alcohol-related crashes cost the American public more than $50 billion a year. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2003. Traffic Safety Facts: Laws. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)

According to a study on alcohol marketing in 2001, for every drinking and driving prevention ad, 172 product placement ads were aired by alcohol companies. (Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth. 2003. Drops in the Bucket: Alcohol Industry “Responsibility” Advertising on Television in 2001. Washington, DC.)

In males 21 and younger, having a blood-alcohol level of 0.02 or higher more than doubles the risk of a fatal single-vehicle crash. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Alert (52). April 2001. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Health.)

In 2001, there were 594 boating accidents where alcohol was involved and 232 alcohol-involved boating fatalities. (U.S. Coast Guard. 2003. Safety: Boating Under the Influence. Washington, DC: U.S. Coast Guard.)

In a recent Gallup survey about drinking and driving in America, 97 percent of the respondents said they believe drinking and driving by others is a personal threat to the safety of their families and themselves; 77 percent believe it is a major threat. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2003. National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior: 2001. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.)