Impaired Driving

Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 160 miles driven in Maine in 2000, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.08 sat behind the wheel. Police in Maine reported 1,781 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 10,700 crashes in Maine involved alcohol which killed 51 and injured an estimated 3,600 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, Maine drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 10,200 crashes that killed 38 and injured 3,200

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 200 crashes that killed 4 and injured 100

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 300 crashes that killed 9 and injured 300

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 23% of Maine’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Maine cost the public an estimated $0.5 billion in 2000, including $0.2 billion in monetary costs and almost $0.3 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 $0.3 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs per Alcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in Maine costs $3.7 million:

· $1.1 million in monetary costs

· $2.6 million in quality of life losses

The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $107,000:

· $50,000 in monetary costs

· $57,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in Maine averaged:

· $4.70 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above

· $2.00 per mile driven at BACs between .08-.09

· $0.10 per mile driven at BACs of .00

Costs per Drink

The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Maine averaged $0.90 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.50 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 22% of Maine’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $10 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.

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