Impaired Driving

Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 140 miles driven in North Dakota in 2000, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.10 sat behind the wheel. Police in North Dakota reported 460 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 2,940 crashes in North Dakota involved alcohol which killed 41 and injured an estimated 1,040 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, North Dakota drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 2,800 crashes that killed 36 and injured 900

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 50 crashes that killed 1 and injured 40

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 90 crashes that killed 4 and injured 100

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 30% of North Dakota’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in North Dakota cost the public an estimated $0.2 billion in 2000, including $0.1 billion in monetary costs and almost $0.1 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 $0.1 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs per Alcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in North Dakota costs $3.3 million:

· $1.0 million in monetary costs

· $2.3 million in quality of life losses

The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $94,000:

· $45,000 in monetary costs

· $49,000 in quality of life losses

 
Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in North Dakota averaged:

· $3.40 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above

· $1.50 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 North Dakota averaged $0.60 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.40 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 14% of North Dakota’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $7 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.

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