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Arizona Drunk Driving Statistics

As shown in the chart below, the alcohol related fatalities in Arizona peaked in 1986, steadily declined in most of the subsequent years and increased in both 2000 and 2001, bucking the overall trend. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 409 involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher - down slightly from 2005.

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.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
724
422
58
376
52
1983
675
388
57
350
52
1984
869
473
54
418
48
1985
893
502
56
444
50
1986
1007
582
58
511
51
1987
939
532
57
462
49
1988
944
488
52
439
47
1989
879
443
50
390
44
1990
869
434
50
398
46
1991
816
429
53
390
48
1992
809
403
50
359
44
1993
801
400
50
355
44
1994
904
410
45
360
40
1995
1035
478
46
410
40
1996
994
442
45
386
39
1997
951
451
47
405
43
1998
980
444
45
377
39
1999
1024
424
41
371
36
2000
1036
469
45
407
39
2001
1051
487
46
425
40
2002
1132
489
43
428
38
2003
1120
470
42
408
36
2004
1150
435
38
376
33
2005
1,177
492
42
434
37
2006
1,280
502
39
409
32

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for Arizona, 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 Arizona

It is important to note that the Arizona drunk driving statistics, 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."

Criminal status of DUI laws in Arizona

In Arizona, 1st and 2nd offenses are class 1 misdemeanors 3rd or subsequent offenses are class 4 felonies - Citation: §§13-604, 13-701, 13-707, 13-801, 13-802, 28-1382 & 28-1383 (2)

Sources for Arizona 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 Arizona with the rest of the country

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