Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities

Date posted: 07/23/2007

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 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 that often do not wear their 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 Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) Involving Alcohol- United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2001- 2005

Data Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2001 to 2005, national percentages of alcohol-related fatalities dropped gradually, falling from 41% to 39%. Colorado's percentages were similar to national results, falling from 44% to 40%.

The percentages of alcohol related vehicle fatalities in Larimer County fluctuated, with the peak occurring in 2001 (52%). The largest drop occurred from 2001 to 2002 where figures declined by 17%. One possibility for large fluctuations locally is the small sample size in Larimer County, which can cause percentages to change dramatically, although the actual numbers change very little. For example, between 2001 and 2002 the percentage of alcohol related MVA fatalities for Larimer County dropped from 52% to 35%. The raw data show that this decline occurred because the number of fatalities fell from fourteen to twelve alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities (see data table).

What this chart shows: Motor Vehicle Accident Fatality & Alcohol-Related Fatality Rates (per 100,000), Larimer County Compared to National Targets, 2001-2005

Data Sources:

• Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database (Total & Alcohol-Related MVA Fatalities)
• Healthy People 2010 Objective 26-1 (National Target Alcohol-Related)
• Healthy People 2010 Objective15-15 (Total MVA Rate)

See data table

What these data tell us:

Between 2001 and 2005, Larimer County's total motor vehicle accident fatality rates were higher than national target rates (Healthy People 2010), with death rates peaking in 2003. During the 2003-2005 period, total motor vehicle accident fatality rates dropped to just above the national target.

Additionally, local alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatality rates were generally higher than the national target rates (Healthy People 2010). However, in 2004, Larimer County did achieve these standards with only three alcohol-related fatalities per 100,000 individuals. The trend of alcohol-related deaths appears to be closely matched to the trend of DUI arrests during the same period, with the peak occurring in 2003 (see Adult Arrests).

What this chart shows: Percentage of Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Fatalities - by Age Group*, Larimer County, 2005

*In 2005, no alcohol-related fatalities occurred in the following age groups: 14 & Under, 45-54, and 65+.

Data Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

See data table

What these data tell us:

Of all alcohol-related fatal MVAs (n= 14) in Larimer County (2005), 65% (n= 9) occurred in the 15-24 age group. Specifically, 58% (n=8) of all alcohol-related deaths occurred in males aged 15-24. A 2003 report

by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates nearly 3 million persons aged 16 to 20 had driven under the influence at least once in the last year, including more than 600,000 persons aged 16 or 17. Furthermore, the percentage of those aged 16 to 25, who drive under the influence, peaks at age 21 and then declines until age 25. They attribute the high percentage of alcohol-related fatalities in this age group to lack of driving experience and over-confidence from alcohol use.

Additionally, SAMHSA reports that Non-Hispanic Whites, in the 12-20 age range, had the highest percentage of past-month alcohol use (32%) and binge drinking (22%), compared to all other racial and ethnic groups (to see the demographic composition of Larimer County, please see the Population Race & Ethnicity page on Compass). People aged 12 to 20 who lived in small metropolitan counties, such as Larimer County, had higher rates of past-month alcohol use (29.8%) when compared to those in large metropolitan areas or non-metropolitan areas (27.3% and 29.3%, respectively).

Additional Information:

On Compass -

• Adult Alcohol Use
• Adult Arrests
• Juvenile Arrests
• Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Unintentional Injury Mortality
• Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Outside Compass -

• Colorado Department of Transportation - contains information on the cost to the defendant of a DUI arrest, and a Blood Alcohol Concentration (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 2010

Objective 26-1: Reduce deaths and injuries caused by alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle crashes. 26-1a: alcohol-related deaths baseline in 1998 was 5.9 per 100,000 population. Target for 2010 is 4 per 100,000 population.

Data Tables:

Percentage of Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) involving Alcohol -

United States, Colorado, & Larimer County (2001- 2005)

	United States		Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
2001	17,400	41%	328	44%	14	52%
2002	17,524	41%	314	42%	12	35%
2003	17,105	40%	252	39%	18	38%
2004	16,919	39%	265	40%	8	26%
2005	16,885	39%	244	40%	14	51%

See chart

Return to Text

Alcohol-Related MVA Fatality Rate (per 100,000)-

Larimer County and National Target, 2001-2005

	Population	National Target (Alcohol-Related)	Alcohol- Related MVA	Total MVA	National Target (MVA)
2001	260,221	4	5.4	10.4	9.2
2002	263,896	4	4.5	12.9	9.2
2003	265,476	4	6.8	17.3	9.2
2004	269,116	4	3.0	11.1	9.2
2005	271,951	4	5.1	9.9	9.2

See chart

Alcohol-Related MVA Fatalities in Larimer County, 2005

	% of Alcohol-Related MVA Fatalities	Total Alcohol-Related MVA Fatalities	Males	Females
15-24	65%	9	8	1
25-34	14%	2	2	0
35-44	14%	2	1	1
45-54	0%	0	0	0
55-64	7%	1	1	0
65+	0%	0	0	0

See chart

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