Impaired Driving

Incidence of Impaired Driving

For one of every 200 miles driven in Wyoming in 2000, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.10 sat behind the wheel. Police in Wyoming reported 926 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. n estimated total of 5,290 crashes in Wyoming involved alcohol which killed 45 and injured an estimated 1,670 people.

Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, Wyoming drivers with:

· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 5,000 crashes that killed 40 and injured 1,500

· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 90 crashes that killed 1 and injured 70

· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 200 crashes that killed 4 and injured 100

Costs

Alcohol is a factor in 26% of Wyoming’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Wyoming cost the public an estimated $0.3 billion in 2000, including $0.1 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 Wyoming costs $3.4 million:

· $1.1 million in monetary costs

· $2.3 million in quality of life losses

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

· $48,000 in monetary costs

· $50,000 in quality of life losses

Costs per Mile Driven

Crash costs in Wyoming averaged:

· $4.60 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 Wyoming averaged $1.20 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 17% of Wyoming’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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