Drunk Driving Statistics in Alabama

The percentage of alcohol related fatalities in Alabama was highest in 1983, but the actual number of alcohol related deaths was highest in 1986. In 2008 out of all traffic fatalities, 315 involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, which is the lowest on record.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
839
486
58
436
52
1983
930
573
62
508
55
1984
932
537
58
465
50
1985
882
439
50
385
44
1986
1,081
609
56
524
48
1987
1,111
596
54
524
47
1988
1,024
503
49
437
43
1989
1,029
527
51
448
44
1990
1,121
583
52
520
46
1991
1,116
551
49
494
44
1992
1,031
498
48
446
43
1993
1,044
476
46
433
41
1994
1,083
472
44
422
39
1995
1,114
494
44
441
40
1996
1,146
516
45
460
40
1997
1,192
499
42
438
37
1998
1,071
442
41
389
36
1999
1,138
465
41
422
37
2000
996
426
43
375
38
2001
991
374
38
330
33
2002
1,038
410
39
366
35
2003
1,001
415
41
376
38
2004
1,154
442
38
394
34
2005
1,131
423
37
382
34
2006
1,206
445
37
384
32
2007
1,110
456
41
389
35
2008
966
367
38
315
33


The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for Alabama, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

It is important to note that the drunk driving statistics for Alabama, as shown above, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as "fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value."

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer's observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called "illegal per se", which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.

Criminal status of DUI laws in Alabama

In Alabama, a 4th or subsequent drunk driving offense is a class C felony (fewer offenses not classified) Citation: §32-5A-191(e), (f),(g) & (h)(2)

Sources for Alabama drunk driving stats

US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02
(2) National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004

Compare the drunk driving statistics in Alabama with the rest of the country

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