NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis                     1 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590  

 DOT HS 810 644 August 2006 

Alcohol-Related Fatalities and Alcohol Involvement Among Drivers and Motorcycle  Operators in 2005 

 Results from the 2005 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) show that 16,885 alcohol-related1 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes were essentially unchanged from 2004.   Table 1 depicts fatalities in traffic crashes by the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the crash. There were only 34 fewer alcohol-related fatalities (BAC=.01+ gram per deciliter (g/dL)), a decline of 0.2 percent compared to 2004.  In crashes where the highest BAC was .08 g/dL or greater, there were 54 fewer fatalities, a decline of 0.4 percent. 

  Table 2 depicts fatalities in traffic crashes by the highest BAC among a driver or motorcycle operator in the crash.  There were 139 fewer fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC among a driver or motorcycle operator was .01 g/dL or greater, a decline of 0.9 percent compared to 2004.  In crashes where the highest BAC was .08 g/dL or greater, there were 154 fewer fatalities, a decline of 1.2 percent.  The illegal per se in all States and the District of Columbia is .08 g/dL. 

 Table 3 depicts alcohol involvement of drivers and 

motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes relative to their sex and age.  In 2005, 27 percent of male drivers and motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .01 g/dL or greater and 23 percent had a BAC of .08 g/dL or greater.  As seen in Table 3, males age 21 to 34 showed the highest level of alcohol involvement at either level.  

                                                 1 Fatalities that occur in a crash involving at least one driver, motorcycle operator, pedestrian, or pedalcyclist with a BAC of .01 g/dL or greater. 

Table 3: Alcohol Involvement of Drivers and Motorcycle Operators in Fatal Crashes 

BAC = .01+ g/dL BAC = .08+ g/dL 

2004 2005 2004 2005 Age Group 

Num % Num % Num % Num % 

MALES 

16-20 1,467 27% 1,271 25% 1,174 22% 1,008 19%

21-34 5,168 39% 5,160 38% 4,425 33% 4,469 33%

35-44 2,352 29% 2,343 29% 2,062 26% 2,031 25%

45-54 1,631 24% 1,696 24% 1,399 21% 1,456 20%

55-64 723 18% 766 17% 608 15% 620 14%

65+ 430 10% 370 9% 327 8% 275 6%

Total 11,838 28% 11,667 27% 10,049 24% 9,906 23%

FEMALES 

16-20 305 13% 247 12% 224 10% 189 9%

21-34 899 20% 913 21% 746 17% 779 18%

35-44 506 19% 526 19% 438 16% 459 17%

45-54 345 15% 350 15% 304 13% 296 13%

55-64 127 9% 121 8% 93 6% 94 6%

65+ 88 4% 75 4% 58 3% 52 3%

Total 2,286 15% 2,244 15% 1,875 12% 1,878 13%

TOTAL 

16-20 1,772 23% 1,518 21% 1,397 18% 1,198 16%

21-34 6,067 34% 6,073 34% 5,171 29% 5,248 29%

35-44 2,857 27% 2,870 27% 2,500 23% 2,490 23%

45-54 1,977 22% 2,046 22% 1,704 19% 1,752 19%

55-64 850 15% 887 15% 701 12% 714 12%

65+ 518 8% 445 7% 384 6% 326 5%

Total 14,284 24% 14,068 24% 12,057 21% 11,921 20%

Note: Totals include drivers under 16 and unknown age.  Percentages are of total drivers involved within the age group. Source: FARS 2004 [Final], 2005 [ARF] 

 Table 4 (overleaf) shows, by State and age group, the 

breakdown of drivers and motorcycle operators with a BAC of .08 g/dL or greater in fatal crashes in 2005. 

   Table 5 (overleaf) shows, by State, alcohol-related fatalities, 

fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC was .08 g/dL or greater, and the percent change from 2004 to 2005. 

Table 1: Alcohol-Related1 Fatalities in Traffic Crashes by the Highest BAC in the Crash 

Description 2004 2005 Change % ChangeBAC .01+ g/dL 16,919 16,885 -34 -0.2%BAC .01-.07 g/dL 2,325 2,346 +21 +0.9%BAC .08+ g/dL 14,593 14,539 -54 -0.4%BAC .15+ g/dL 10,060 10,081 +21 +0.2%

Source: FARS 2004 [Final], 2005 [ARF] 

Table 2: Fatalities in Traffic Crashes by the Highest Driver or Motorcycle Operator BAC in the Crash 

Description 2004 2005 Change % ChangeBAC .01+ g/dL 15,311 15,172 -139 -0.9%BAC .01-.07 g.dL 2,212 2,227 +15 +0.7%BAC .08+ g/dL 13,099 12,945 -154 -1.2%BAC .15+ g/dL 8,762 8,737 -25 -0.3%

Source: FARS 2004 [Final], 2005 [ARF] 

                                   NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis                     2 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590  

 Table 4: Drivers and Motorcycle Operators With a BAC of .08 g/dL or Greater Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Age, 2005 

Age Group Total* 16-20 21-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ State 

Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Alabama  323 21% 27 13% 141 30% 66 24% 56 23% 21 13% 11 7%Alaska  24 24% 2 18% 13 40% 5 24% 2 9% 2 19% 1 18%Arizona  327 21% 35 19% 127 28% 53 23% 36 19% 12 11% 11 8%Arkansas  179 20% 17 16% 69 27% 42 28% 27 20% 17 14% 7 7%California  1,117 19% 108 15% 532 29% 220 20% 143 16% 65 12% 22 5%Colorado  187 22% 24 22% 85 30% 41 28% 22 17% 12 13% 3 4%Connecticut  88 23% 13 29% 42 37% 15 19% 11 18% 5 10% 3 7%Delaware  45 23% 4 12% 16 31% 10 28% 14 39% 0 1% 2 10%Dist of Columbia 15 26% 0 6% 9 45% 3 28% 1 28% 0 0% 0 4%Florida  932 19% 92 15% 391 26% 203 23% 157 20% 42 8% 35 6%Georgia  385 15% 34 11% 168 23% 77 16% 56 14% 31 11% 15 6%Hawaii  49 28% 3 16% 23 41% 15 34% 3 14% 2 15% 0 0%Idaho  69 21% 9 21% 29 31% 13 24% 13 20% 4 9% 2 6%Illinois  400 21% 44 19% 192 32% 80 24% 48 16% 23 13% 9 4%Indiana  234 18% 23 14% 97 24% 51 23% 43 19% 14 11% 5 3%Iowa  93 15% 11 14% 38 25% 18 17% 14 14% 7 11% 5 5%Kansas  112 19% 7 10% 49 32% 24 24% 21 21% 6 9% 3 4%Kentucky  233 18% 15 9% 107 26% 54 21% 36 18% 13 10% 6 4%Louisiana  287 22% 21 14% 131 28% 61 23% 47 22% 18 15% 4 5%Maine  45 20% 7 21% 16 30% 14 36% 6 15% 1 4% 1 4%Maryland  151 17% 13 12% 71 24% 34 19% 17 13% 9 10% 5 5%Massachusetts  130 22% 16 18% 67 34% 12 16% 22 22% 8 12% 4 6%Michigan  288 18% 27 14% 122 29% 70 24% 47 15% 14 8% 3 1%Minnesota  150 20% 13 12% 58 28% 40 28% 25 18% 9 11% 3 4%Mississippi  277 24% 31 19% 106 28% 70 34% 46 27% 16 14% 7 6%Missouri  366 22% 50 22% 152 33% 71 24% 56 20% 26 14% 10 5%Montana  88 31% 3 11% 43 53% 21 47% 12 25% 7 16% 2 5%Nebraska  68 19% 10 21% 25 27% 15 24% 13 21% 2 4% 2 5%Nevada  114 19% 10 16% 55 29% 22 22% 13 14% 6 10% 6 9%New Hampshire  49 22% 5 23% 21 35% 9 23% 9 21% 2 10% 1 3%New Jersey  166 16% 13 13% 80 26% 41 17% 19 13% 8 7% 4 3%New Mexico  121 21% 17 23% 52 30% 21 21% 19 21% 6 8% 5 10%New York  337 18% 39 19% 154 26% 69 20% 42 15% 21 12% 8 4%North Carolina  384 18% 40 14% 181 28% 82 22% 49 14% 19 9% 9 4%North Dakota  43 33% 6 33% 18 47% 7 41% 9 34% 1 11% 2 12%Ohio  367 19% 29 12% 158 30% 95 26% 59 17% 17 8% 7 3%Oklahoma  210 20% 23 16% 86 30% 46 25% 26 14% 20 16% 7 6%Oregon  117 17% 12 15% 38 22% 23 22% 28 20% 13 14% 3 3%Pennsylvania  500 22% 44 17% 223 34% 111 25% 74 21% 30 12% 14 5%Rhode Island  27 24% 5 25% 9 27% 5 26% 4 29% 2 18% 1 14%South Carolina  318 22% 28 18% 147 32% 59 22% 51 23% 19 15% 10 7%South Dakota  59 26% 9 36% 25 44% 13 26% 9 22% 2 11% 0 1%Tennessee  349 20% 32 14% 146 28% 80 26% 53 19% 24 12% 11 6%Texas  1,141 24% 125 20% 518 33% 208 24% 166 24% 69 16% 32 8%Utah  32 9% 1 1% 12 9% 6 11% 8 14% 6 15% 1 2%Vermont  27 26% 3 20% 13 39% 5 35% 5 31% 1 9% 0 0%Virginia  248 20% 25 16% 99 29% 65 26% 27 15% 20 14% 10 6%Washington  213 25% 27 28% 106 37% 33 24% 29 22% 13 12% 4 5%West Virginia  102 20% 11 24% 44 27% 20 25% 16 20% 6 11% 3 5%Wisconsin  285 27% 30 21% 122 38% 67 36% 37 23% 22 18% 6 5%Wyoming  53 27% 7 32% 24 49% 8 22% 6 18% 4 16% 2 9%National  11,921 20% 1,198 16% 5,248 29% 2,490 23% 1,752 19% 714 12% 326 5%Puerto Rico  136 23% 15 20% 58 24% 21 24% 21 32% 14 24% 5 15%*Includes drivers under 16 and unknown age.  Percentages are of total drivers involved within the age group. Source: FARS 2005 [ARF] 

                                   NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis                3  400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

Table 5: Alcohol-Related Fatalities, Fatalities in Crashes Involving a BAC of .08 g/dL or Greater, and Percent Change, 2004-2005 *Fatalities by the Highest BAC in the Crash **Fatalities by the Highest Driver or Motorcycle Operator 

BAC in the Crash BAC = .01+ g/dL BAC =  .08+ g/dL BAC = .01+ g/dL BAC =  .08+ g/dL State 

2004 2005 % Change 2004 2005 % 

Change 2004 2005 % Change 2004 2005 % 

Change Alabama 432 423 -2.1% 387 382 -1.3% 405 399 -1.5% 360 358 -0.6% Alaska 31 35 +12.9% 29 31 +6.9% 29 32 +10.3% 27 27 0.0% Arizona 446 492 +10.3% 385 434 +12.7% 389 417 +7.2% 334 362 +8.4% Arkansas 264 233 -11.7% 218 208 -4.6% 247 219 -11.3% 201 195 -3.0% California 1,667 1,719 +3.1% 1,390 1,466 +5.5% 1,432 1,478 +3.2% 1,179 1,250 +6.0% Colorado 265 244 -7.9% 228 213 -6.6% 236 229 -3.0% 200 198 -1.0% Connecticut 131 120 -8.4% 119 101 -15.1% 125 109 -12.8% 112 91 -18.8% Delaware 51 66 +29.4% 47 59 +25.5% 43 59 +37.2% 39 53 +35.9% Dist of Columbia 19 26 +36.8% 15 21 +40.0% 18 22 +22.2% 13 17 +30.8% Florida 1,244 1,471 +18.2% 1,065 1,271 +19.3% 1,053 1,207 +14.6% 886 1,023 +15.5% Georgia 536 545 +1.7% 461 463 +0.4% 472 489 +3.6% 403 413 +2.5% Hawaii 64 71 +10.9% 51 58 +13.7% 54 65 +20.4% 44 53 +20.5% Idaho 93 89 -4.3% 81 85 +4.9% 88 86 -2.3% 76 82 +7.9% Illinois 613 580 -5.4% 524 477 -9.0% 561 535 -4.6% 475 440 -7.4% Indiana 304 320 +5.3% 257 273 +6.2% 281 302 +7.5% 241 253 +5.0% Iowa 111 118 +6.3% 92 102 +10.9% 105 112 +6.7% 87 96 +10.3% Kansas 139 151 +8.6% 115 122 +6.1% 136 145 +6.6% 113 115 +1.8% Kentucky 307 313 +2.0% 269 267 -0.7% 290 293 +1.0% 256 246 -3.9% Louisiana 424 394 -7.1% 349 347 -0.6% 389 357 -8.2% 315 309 -1.9% Maine 70 59 -15.7% 58 50 -13.8% 69 58 -15.9% 57 49 -14.0% Maryland 286 235 -17.8% 234 191 -18.4% 257 203 -21.0% 211 161 -23.7% Massachusetts 207 171 -17.4% 186 150 -19.4% 189 153 -19.0% 169 134 -20.7% Michigan 431 421 -2.3% 368 363 -1.4% 386 373 -3.4% 329 312 -5.2% Minnesota 191 201 +5.2% 170 176 +3.5% 180 187 +3.9% 156 163 +4.5% Mississippi 352 371 +5.4% 327 331 +1.2% 337 342 +1.5% 312 302 -3.2% Missouri 460 515 +12.0% 398 434 +9.0% 428 479 +11.9% 369 398 +7.9% Montana 105 124 +18.1% 99 112 +13.1% 103 116 +12.6% 97 105 +8.2% Nebraska 92 91 -1.1% 79 78 -1.3% 88 88 0.0% 74 76 +2.7% Nevada 154 159 +3.2% 135 143 +5.9% 129 143 +10.9% 112 126 +12.5% New Hampshire 59 60 +1.7% 52 55 +5.8% 57 58 +1.8% 51 54 +5.9% New Jersey 270 263 -2.6% 217 217 0.0% 235 222 -5.5% 185 180 -2.7% New Mexico 213 189 -11.3% 189 172 -9.0% 181 160 -11.6% 157 143 -8.9% New York 594 524 -11.8% 507 434 -14.4% 513 443 -13.6% 435 358 -17.7% North Carolina 549 549 0.0% 488 484 -0.8% 484 475 -1.9% 423 414 -2.1% North Dakota 39 58 +48.7% 35 46 +31.4% 38 57 +50.0% 34 45 +32.4% Ohio 492 505 +2.6% 417 409 -1.9% 464 480 +3.4% 392 385 -1.8% Oklahoma 282 283 +0.4% 247 249 +0.8% 257 263 +2.3% 225 231 +2.7% Oregon 204 177 -13.2% 164 139 -15.2% 192 153 -20.3% 150 121 -19.3% Pennsylvania 616 636 +3.2% 546 559 +2.4% 583 595 +2.1% 517 523 +1.2% Rhode Island 43 43 0.0% 41 34 -17.1% 40 38 -5.0% 38 29 -23.7% South Carolina 463 464 +0.2% 410 396 -3.4% 421 425 +1.0% 368 359 -2.4% South Dakota 83 80 -3.6% 74 76 +2.7% 80 73 -8.8% 71 69 -2.8% Tennessee 542 464 -14.4% 469 397 -15.4% 509 434 -14.7% 439 371 -15.5% Texas 1,704 1,569 -7.9% 1,481 1,371 -7.4% 1,552 1,408 -9.3% 1,336 1,224 -8.4% Utah 75 37 -50.7% 72 35 -51.4% 70 35 -50.0% 67 33 -50.7% Vermont 32 29 -9.4% 21 28 +33.3% 31 29 -6.5% 20 28 +40.0% Virginia 363 347 -4.4% 314 284 -9.6% 336 323 -3.9% 288 263 -8.7% Washington 247 294 +19.0% 223 253 +13.5% 225 272 +20.9% 202 235 +16.3% West Virginia 142 126 -11.3% 119 116 -2.5% 130 118 -9.2% 108 108 0.0% Wisconsin 358 369 +3.1% 318 328 +3.1% 338 353 +4.4% 297 313 +5.4% Wyoming 59 65 +10.2% 53 56 +5.7% 57 63 +10.5% 51 54 +5.9% National 16,919 16,885 -0.2% 14,593 14,539 -0.4% 15,311 15,172 -0.9% 13,099 12,945 -1.2% Puerto Rico 250 217 -13.2% 224 184 -17.9% 198 179 -9.6% 174 145 -16.7% *Fatalities that occur in a crash involving at least one driver, motorcycle operator, pedestrian, or pedalcyclist with a BAC of .01 g/dL or greater. **Fatalities that occur in a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .01 g/dL or greater.      Source: FARS 2004 [Final], 2005 [ARF] 

This Crash*Stats and other general information on highway traffic safety may be accessed by Internet users at:  www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html 

    -       - Superintendent of Documents
      - 2023-09-01T21:47:41-0400
      - Government Publishing Office, Washington, DC 20401
      - Government Publishing Office
      - Government Publishing Office attests that this document has not been altered since it was disseminated by Government Publishing Office