| DUI - DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE |
What is impaired Driving?
Impaired driving can be defined as a reduction in the performance of critical
driving tasks due to the effects of alcohol or other drugs.
"You Drink & Drive. You Lose" and "Friends Don’t Let
Friends Drive Drunk." These national slogans discourage impaired
driving and are familiar to millions of Americans. And the message is getting
through to the public. In 1982, 57% of motor vehicle fatalities were
alcohol-related. In 2002, that number had fallen to 41%. However, the fight is
far from over.
In Arizona in 2001, 488 people died in motor vehicle crashes where alcohol
was a factor. Thousands more were injured. Alcohol-related crashes are painful
and expensive. Costs to treat the injured are passed on to taxpayers in the form
of increased public health costs and higher insurance premiums. When it comes to
impaired driving, everyone loses.
Arizona Driving Under the Influence Statistics
Police in Arizona reported 7,756 crashes involving a driver or pedestrian with a BAC of .01 or more. Formulas developed by NHTSA were used to estimate the number of alcohol-related crashes where alcohol involvement was not reported by the police.
In 2002, an estimated total of 8,095 crashes in Arizona involved alcohol which killed
488 and injured thousands more people.
Costs
Alcohol is a factor in more than 26% of Arizona’s crash costs. Economic
loss due to Alcohol-related crashes in AZ for 2001 totaled $431,118,600. Alcohol-related
crashes in Arizona cost the public an more than $2.6 billion in 2001, including
$1.1 billion in monetary costs and $1.5 billion in quality of life
losses. Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than any other
crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $1.6 billion of the
alcohol-related crash bill.
Costs Per Alcohol-related Injury
The average alcohol-related fatality in Arizona cost $3.3 million: $.9 million
in monetary costs $2.4 million in quality of life losses The estimated cost per
injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $87,000: $49,000 in
monetary costs $51,000 in quality of life losses
Costs Per Mile Driven
Crash costs in Arizona averaged: $8.30 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above
$3.60 per mile driven at BACs between .08-.09 $0.20 per mile driven at BACs of
.00
Costs Per Drink
The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Arizona averaged $1.70 per
drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.70 per drink.
Impact on Auto Insurance Rates
Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 17% of Arizona’s auto
insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $50
million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.
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