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Florida Drunk Driving Statistics

In Florida, the percentage of alcohol related fatalities peaked in 1983, while the actual number of alcohol related deaths peaked in 1986 and the lowest number of drunk driving deaths occurred in 1997. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 29% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, with 959 fatalities, which was a big drop from the year before.

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
2,653
1,407
53
1,240
47
1983
2,686
1,539
57
1,397
52
1984
2,814
1,551
55
1,370
49
1985
2,832
1,518
54
1,271
45
1986
2,831
1,574
56
1,359
48
1987
2,839
1,516
53
1,320
47
1988
3,078
1,564
51
1,352
44
1989
2,984
1,506
50
1,305
44
1990
2,891
1,477
51
1,297
45
1991
2,463
1,227
50
1,084
44
1992
2,427
1,143
47
993
41
1993
2,636
1,210
46
1,072
41
1994
2,687
1,137
42
997
37
1995
2,805
1,183
42
1,014
36
1996
2,753
1,104
40
948
34
1997
2,785
1,003
36
886
32
1998
2,825
1,039
37
884
31
1999
2,920
1,139
39
984
34
2000
2,999
1,277
43
1,086
36
2001
3,012
1,281
43
1,102
37
2002
3,136
1,279
41
1,107
35
2003
3,169
1,274
40
1,089
34
2004
3,244
1,222
38
1,053
32
2005
3,543
1,471
42
1,271
36
2006
3,363
1111
33
959
29

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

Florida alcohol fatality stats

It is important to note that the Florida 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."

The fatality rates shown above refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Criminal status of DUI laws in Florida

In Florida, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd or subsequent offense is a 3rd degree felony. Citation:§§316.193 & 775.082(2)

Sources for Florida 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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