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Colorado Drunk Driving Statistics

In Colorado, the percentage of deaths that were alcohol related peaked in 1983, with an extraordinarily high 65%. The actual number of alcohol related deaths peaked the year before with 422. Since then, fatalities in Colorado have steadily declined in both percentage and number, with the exception of 2000 and 2001, which had increases in both. Hopefully, the drunk driving deaths will continue to decline. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 33% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, the lowest percentage since 2000.

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
668
422
63
374
56
1983
646
418
65
356
55
1984
608
374
61
315
52
1985
579
316
55
279
48
1986
603
360
60
308
51
1987
591
291
49
249
42
1988
497
227
46
195
39
1989
527
247
47
222
42
1990
544
260
48
216
40
1991
543
280
51
245
45
1992
522
263
50
225
43
1993
559
235
42
210
38
1994
586
282
48
237
40
1995
645
304
47
257
40
1996
617
252
41
218
35
1997
613
229
37
197
32
1998
628
244
39
214
34
1999
626
229
37
194
31
2000
681
268
39
225
33
2001
741
328
44
281
38
2002
743
314
42
276
37
2003
632
246
39
221
35
2004
665
259
39
225
34
2005
606
244
40
213
35
2006
533
207
39
177
33

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

Colorado drunk driving statistics

It is important to note that the Colorado 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 Colorado

In Colorado, DUI and impaired offenses are misdemeanors, injury-related DUI offenses are class 4 felonies - Citation: §§18-1.3-401 & 18-3-205 (2)

Sources for Colorado drunk driving information and statistics

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

National drunk driving statistics in the US...

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