Alcohol-related traffic crashes in the United States
Alcohol-related traffic crashes are defined by the United StatesNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration as alcohol-related if either a driver or a non-motorist had a measurable or estimated BAC of 0.01 g/dl or above. This statistic includes any and all vehicular accidents in which any alcohol has been consumed, or believed to have been consumed, by the driver, a passenger or a pedestrian associated with the accident. Thus, if a person who has consumed alcohol and has stopped for a red light is rear-ended by a completely sober but inattentive driver, the accident is listed as alcohol-related, although alcohol had nothing to do with causing the accident. Furthermore, if a sober motorist hits a drunk pedestrian, the accident is also listed as alcohol-related. Alcohol-related accidents are often mistakenly confused with alcohol-caused accidents. Some have criticized the NHTSA for compiling this statistic since it may give the impression that drunk drivers cause a much higher percentage of accidents and does not accurately reflect the problem of drunk driving in the United States. Nationally, 12.8% of all drivers involved in fatal accidents during 2013 are known to have been intoxicated according to the blood alcohol concentration 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. However, a majority of fatalities resulting from car accidents involving alcohol are from sober drivers who are hit by drunk drivers. The higher number commonly reported refers to accidents defined as alcohol-related as estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each year, The Century Council, a national non-profit organization funded by a group of alcohol manufacturers, compiles a document of alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Between 1991 and 2013, the rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities per 100,000 population has decreased 52% nationally, and 79% among youth under 21.
NHTSA data
According to NHTSA, all states of the U.S.A. including district of columbia and puerto rico have a bac limit of 0.08 g/dL or lower. In 2016, in the USA, 10,497 people were killed in a fatal crash involving an alcohol impaired driver. 62% of the people killed in such a crash were drivers, 29% occupants, and 9% non occupants. This data is described as The 10,497 killed in fatal crash involving an alcohol impaired driver makes 28% of the fatalities. When considering BAC greater than 0.15 g/dL, 7,052 people were killed , while for a BAC greater than 0.01 g/dL, 33% have been killed. In 2016, the best countries with the less alcohol impaired driver involved in fatal crash were Utah and Mississippi, 128 and 52 killed. 75% of the drivers with BAC levels of 0.08% or higher involved in fatal crashes are aged between 21 and 44. 25% of the motorcyclists killed in fatal crashes had BACs of 0.08% or greater.