Impaired Driving

Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 130 miles driven in Pennsylvania in 2000, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.10 sat behind the wheel. Police in Pennsylvania reported 14,564 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 99,430 crashes in Pennsylvania involved alcohol which killed 618 and injured an estimated 33,500 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, Pennsylvania drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 94,600 crashes that killed 511 and injured 29,300

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 1,630 crashes that killed 31 and injured 1,300

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 3,200 crashes that killed 76 and injured 2,900

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 31% of Pennsylvania’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania cost the public an estimated $5.2 billion in 2000, including $2.4 billion in monetary costs and almost $2.8 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 $3.2 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill.

Costs per Alcohol-Related Injury

The average alcohol-related fatality in Pennsylvania costs $3.8 million:

· $1.2 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:

· $51,000 in monetary costs

· $56,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in Pennsylvania averaged:

· $7.20 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above

· $3.10 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 Pennsylvania averaged $1.10 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $.70 per drink.

Impact on Auto Insurance Rates

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 20% of Pennsylvania’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $141 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses.

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