Impaired Driving

Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 240 miles driven in New Mexico in 1999, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.08 sat behind the wheel. Police in New Mexico reported 3,164 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 18,710 crashes in New Mexico involved alcohol which killed 206 and injured an estimated 6,700 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 1999, New Mexico drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 17,800 crashes that killed 169 and injured 5,800

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 310 crashes that killed 11 and injured 300

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 600 crashes that killed 26 and injured 600

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 35% of New Mexico’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in New Mexico cost the public an estimated $1.2 billion in 1999, including $0.5 billion in monetary costs and almost $0.7 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 $0.7 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs per Alcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in New Mexico costs $3.4 million:

· $1.0 million in monetary costs

· $2.4 million in quality of life losses

The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $98,000:

· $45,000 in monetary costs

· $53,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in New Mexico averaged:

· $6.50 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above

· $2.80 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 New Mexico averaged $1.50 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $.90 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 16% of New Mexico auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $19 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.

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