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Drunk Driving Statistics in Alaska

In Alaska, the percentage of alcohol related deaths and the actual number of alcohol related deaths peaked in 1984. Since then, the drunk driving deaths have shown a downward trend, with the lowest number of deaths in 1998, in both total number and alcohol related fatalities. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 27% 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
105
64
61
62
59
1983
150
88
59
80
53
1984
134
88
66
77
57
1985
127
78
61
74
58
1986
101
57
56
50
49
1987
76
44
58
38
49
1988
97
57
59
51
53
1989
84
48
58
42
50
1990
98
51
52
45
46
1991
101
49
48
45
45
1992
108
67
62
54
50
1993
118
54
46
52
44
1994
85
51
60
44
51
1995
87
47
54
39
44
1996
81
43
53
39
48
1997
77
41
53
31
41
1998
70
31
44
28
40
1999
79
40
51
36
46
2000
106
56
53
52
49
2001
89
47
53
44
49
2002
89
37
41
35
39
2003
95
35
37
31
33
2004
101
31
31
30
30
2005
72
35
48
31
43
2006
73
23
31
20
27

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

Drunk driving or alcohol-related fatalities for Alaska

It is important to note that the drunk driving statistics for Alaska, 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 Alaska

In Alaska, 1 st and 2 nd offenses are class A misdemeanors 3rd or subsequent offense within 5 years is a class C felony - Citation: §§12.55.035, 122.55.125, 12.55.135 & 28.35.030(b) (2)

Sources for Alaska drunk driving information and statistics

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

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

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