Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities
Date updated: 12/19/2011
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, 2001-2010
Data Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database
What the above data tell us:
From 2001 to 2010, national percentages of alcohol-related fatalities fluctuated between 23% and 28%. Colorado's percentages were more variable ranging from 23% to a high of 35% in 2001.The percentages of alcohol-related vehicle fatalities in Larimer County fluctuated more widely, with the peak occurring in 2001 (52%) 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 2001 and 2010, the number of alcohol-related fatalities fluctuated between 4 and 14. (See data table)
What this chart shows: Motor Vehicle Accident Fatality & Alcohol-Related Fatality Rates (per 100,000), Larimer County Compared to National Targets, 2001-2010
Data Sources:
- Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database
- Healthy People 2010 Objective 26-1 (National Target Alcohol-Related)
- Healthy People 2010 Objective 15-15 (Total MVA Rate)
What the above data tell us:
Between 2001 and 2006, Larimer County's total motor vehicle accident fatality rates were higher than the national target rate (9.2 per 100,000 population), with vehicle fatalities peaking in 2003. Since 2007, Larimer County has met the Healthy People 2010 objective of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Local alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatality rates fluctuated between 2001 and 2010, with a high of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2001 and a low of 1.3 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.
Additional Information:
Related Information on COMPASS -
- Adult Alcohol Use
- Adult Arrests
- Juvenile Arrests
- Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Unintentional Injury Mortality
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:
Data Tables:
Percentage of Motor Vehicle Fatalities Involving Alcohol
|
|
United States |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|||
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
|
|
2001 |
10,181 | 24% | 261 | 35% | 14 | 52% |
|
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% |
Motor Vehicle Accident Rates per 100,000 Residents in Larimer County
|
Population |
Alcohol- Related |
Healthy People 2010 Goal (Alcohol-Related) |
Total MVA Rate |
Healthy People 2010 Goal (MVA) |
|
|
2001 |
260,911 | 5.4 | 4.0 | 10.3 | 9.2 |
|
2002 |
266,171 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 12.8 | 9.2 |
|
2003 |
268,146 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 17.2 | 9.2 |
|
2004 |
273,269 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 9.2 |
|
2005 |
275,873 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
|
2006 |
281,027 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 9.2 |
|
2007 |
286,754 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 8.7 | 9.2 |
|
2008 |
292,394 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 8.9 | 9.2 |
|
2009 |
297,502 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
|
2010 |
300,637 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 9.2 |