Alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, by gender and state, 2007-2008.

This Research Note emphasizes recent trends in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, by the gender of the driver as well as the State where the fatal crash occurred. This analysis was performed in light of recent data1 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that depicted a recent increasing trend in the number of female drivers arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. Analysis of NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows that the number of alcohol-impaired (blood alcohol concentration, BAC=.08+ grams per deciliter) female drivers increased or remained flat in 15 States in 2008, as compared to 2007. In comparison, the number of alcohol-impaired male drivers increased or remained flat in 13 States. These changes are significant in the light of the overall drop of about 9 percent in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers nationwide from 2007 to 2008. Data from FARS for 2007 and 2008 was used in this research note. Figure 1 depicts the State-by-State changes in 2008 in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers in 2008 as compared to 2007, for males and females. The States are highlighted according to whether there were increases (grey) or decreases (green) in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers, or if they were unchanged (light green). The largest increase in the number of alcohol-impaired female drivers was in Ohio (+8, or a 17% increase) while the largest percentage increase was in New Hampshire (+125%, or an increase of 5 drivers). Other States showing an increase in the number of alcohol-impaired female drivers were Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, West Virginia, Indiana, Washington, Kansas and Tennessee. The five States where the number of alcohol-impaired female drivers was unchanged in 2008 were Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah.