Impaired Driving

IMPAIRED DRIVING IN Alaska
Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 90 miles driven in Alaska in 1999, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.08 sat behind the wheel. Police in Alaska reported 1,058 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. An estimated total of 5,290 crashes in Alaska involved alcohol. These crashes killed 41 and injured an estimated 1,970 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 1999, Alaska drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 5,000 crashes that killed 32 and injured 1,700

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 90 crashes that killed 3 and injured 70

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 200 crashes that killed 6 and injured 200

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 23% of Alaska’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Alaska cost the public an estimated $0.4 billion in 1999, including $0.2 billion in monetary costs and almost $0.2 billion in quality of life losses. (For definitions of the cost categories, see the definitions fact sheet.) Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.2 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs per Alcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in Alaska costs $3.9 million:

· $1.0 million in monetary costs

· $2.9 million in quality of life losses

The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $123,000:

· $61,000 in monetary costs

· $62,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in Alaska averaged:

· $13.00 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above

· $5.60 per mile driven at BACs between .08-.09

· $0.30 per mile driven at BACs of .00

Costs per Drink

The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Alaska averaged $1.00 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.60 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 18% of Alaska’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $5 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.

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