Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities

Date posted: 11/04/2009

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 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 Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) Involving Alcohol - United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 1999-2008

Data Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System - Searchable Database

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 1999 to 2008, national percentages of alcohol-related fatalities fluctuated between 35% and 38%. Colorado's percentages were similar to national results, falling within a few percentage points (0 to 3 points) of the national rate.

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 2008 (24%). The largest drop occurred from 1997 to 1998 where figures declined by nearly 62%. One possibility for large fluctuations locally is the small sample size in Larimer County, which can cause percentages to change dramatically even though the actual numbers change very little. For example, between 1999 and 2008, the number of fatalities fluctuated from six to sixteen alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities during this time frame. (See data table)

What this chart shows: Motor Vehicle Accident Fatality & Alcohol-Related Fatality Rates (per 100,000), Larimer County Compared to National Targets, 1999-2008

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 1999 and 2006, Larimer County's total motor vehicle accident fatality rates were higher than national target rate (9.0 per 100,000 population), with death rates peaking in 2003. Rates began dropping in 2004 and have hovered near the national target rate for the last two years.

Additionally, local alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatality rates fluctuated between 1999 and 2008. Larimer County achieved the national standard of 4.0 deaths per 100,000 population in five of the last ten years depicted. 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)

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 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 2010

Objective 26-1: Reduce deaths and injuries caused by alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle crashes to 4.0 per 100,000 population.

Objective 15-15: Reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes to 9.2 per 100,000 population.

Data Tables:

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

United States, Colorado, & Larimer County

	United States		Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
1999	14,919	36%	206	33%	11	38%
2000	15,863	38%	237	35%	7	27%
2001	15,862	38%	302	41%	14	52%
2002	15,925	37%	281	38%	11	31%
2003	15,556	35%	229	36%	16	36%
2004	15,423	36%	236	35%	8	26%
2005	16,087	37%	237	39%	13	49%
2006	16,075	38%	210	39%	10	35%
2007	15,648	38%	197	36%	8	34%
2008	13,944	37%	202	37%	6	24%

See chart

Return to Text

Alcohol-Related MVA Fatality Rate (per 100,000) - Larimer County and National Target

	Population	Alcohol- Related MVA Rate	National Target (Alcohol-Related)	Total MVA Rate	National Target (MVA)
1999	246,156	4.5	4.0	11.8	9.2
2000	251,494	2.8	4.0	10.7	9.2
2001	261,208	5.4	4.0	10.3	9.2
2002	266,789	4.1	4.0	12.7	9.2
2003	269,061	5.9	4.0	17.1	9.2
2004	273,883	2.9	4.0	11.0	9.2
2005	276,755	4.7	4.0	9.8	9.2
2006	282,052	3.5	4.0	9.9	9.2
2007	288,244	2.8	4.0	9.0	9.2
2008	291,906	2.1	4.0	8.9	9.2

See chart

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