Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities
Date updated: 01/20/2013
Chart Directory:
The United States Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System defines Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA) as police-reported accidents in which at least one person dies within 30 days of the crash. A motor vehicle accident is considered to be alcohol-related [pdf] if at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value.
The Colorado State Patrol reports that vehicle crashes involving alcohol or drugs are more severe, result in more deaths, involve higher speeds and passengers who often do not wear seatbelts. The presence of alcohol is determined by measuring the BAC of the driver or passengers at the crash. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System defines a impairment as a BAC of 0.01- 0.07 g/dL (gram of alcohol per deciliter of blood) and intoxication as a BAC of 0.08 g/ dL or greater.
What this chart shows: Percentage of Motor Vehicle Fatalities Involving Alcohol - United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2002-2011
Data Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database
What the above data tell us:
From 2002 to 2011, national percentages of alcohol-related fatalities fluctuated between 23% and 29%. Colorado's percentages were more variable ranging from 23% to a high of 39% in 2011.The percentages of alcohol-related vehicle fatalities in Larimer County fluctuated more widely, with the peak occurring in 2011 (42%) and the low occurring in 2004 (13%). One possibility for large fluctuations locally is the small sample size in Larimer County, which can cause percentages to change dramatically. For example, between 2002 and 2011, the number of alcohol-related fatalities fluctuated between 4 and 12. (See data table)
What this chart shows: Motor Vehicle Accident Fatality & Alcohol-Related Fatality Rates (per 100,000), Larimer County Compared to National Targets, 2002-2011
Data Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database
What the above data tell us:
Healthy People 2010 included two motor vehicle-related objectives: 1) reduce deaths and injuries caused by alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle crashes to 4.0 per 100,000 population; and 2) reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes to 9.2 per 100,000 population.Between 2002 and 2006, Larimer County's total motor vehicle accident fatality rates were higher than the national target rate of 9.2 per 100,000 population, with vehicle fatalities peaking in 2003. Since 2007, Larimer County met the Healthy People 2010 objective of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Local alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatality rates fluctuated between 2002 and 2011, with a high of 4.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2003 and a low of 1.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2010. Larimer County achieved the national standard of 4.0 deaths per 100,000 in eight of the last ten years shown above.
In 2010, the Healthy People objectives were updated and are now referred to as Healthy People 2020. Only one objective was included in the update - to reduce the number of deaths causes by motor vehicle crashes to 12.4 per 100,000 population. Larimer County met that objective in 2011 (7.0 deaths per 100,000 population).
Additional Information:
Related Information on COMPASS -
Other Resources -
- Colorado Department of Transportation - contains information on the cost to the defendant of a DUI arrest, and a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) calculator.
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
- National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NCSA) - presentations and reports on traffic safety and crashes
Industry Standards or Targets:
Healthy People 2020
- Objective IVP-13.1: reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes to 12.4 per 100,000 population
Data Tables:
Percentage of Motor Vehicle Fatalities Involving Alcohol
|
|
United States |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
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|
# Accidents Involving Alcohol |
Percent of Total |
# Accidents Involving Alcohol |
Percent of Total |
# Accidents Involving Alcohol |
Percent of Total |
|
|
2002 |
10,593 | 25% | 248 | 33% | 10 | 29% |
|
2003 |
10,363 | 24% | 212 | 33% | 12 | 26% |
|
2004 |
9,890 | 23% | 155 | 23% | 4 | 13% |
|
2005 |
10,462 | 24% | 156 | 26% | 7 | 26% |
|
2006 |
10,540 | 25% | 147 | 27% | 8 | 29% |
|
2007 |
11,013 | 27% | 181 | 33% | 10 | 40% |
|
2008 |
10,550 | 28% | 148 | 27% | 5 | 19% |
|
2009 |
9,611 | 28% | 158 | 34% | 10 | 37% |
|
2010 |
8,409 | 26% | 105 | 23% | 4 | 25% |
|
2011 |
7,944 | 29% | 153 | 39% | 7 | 33% |
Motor Vehicle Accident Rates per 100,000 Residents in Larimer County
|
Population |
Alcohol- Related |
Healthy People 2020 Goal (Alcohol-Related) |
Total MVA Rate |
Healthy People 2020 Goal (MVA) |
|
|
2002 |
266,789 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 12.7 | 9.2 |
|
2003 |
269,061 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 17.1 | 9.2 |
|
2004 |
273,883 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 9.2 |
|
2005 |
276,755 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
|
2006 |
282,052 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 9.9 | 9.2 |
|
2007 |
288,244 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 8.7 | 9.2 |
|
2008 |
291,906 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 8.9 | 9.2 |
|
2009 |
294,970 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
|
2010 |
295,888 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 9.2 |
|
Healthy People 2010 Goal (Alcohol-Related) |
Healthy People 2010 Goal (MVA) |
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|
2011 |
298,870 | 3.0 | None | 7.0 | 12.4 |