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Idaho Drunk Driving Statistics

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.

In Idaho, after peaking in 1986 with 57%, the percentage of alcohol related fatalities of the total fatalities has steadily declined. The actual number of drunk driving deaths has dropped from a high of 147 in 1986, to 89 in 2005. For the last several years, out of all traffic fatalities, 31% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
256
132
51
110
43
1983
263
129
49
113
43
1984
242
117
48
100
41
1985
255
137
54
116
45
1986
258
147
57
119
46
1987
260
135
52
121
46
1988
257
119
46
99
38
1989
238
107
45
93
39
1990
244
133
55
113
46
1991
264
127
48
112
43
1992
243
104
43
93
38
1993
230
111
48
101
44
1994
250
93
37
84
34
1995
262
90
35
79
30
1996
258
94
36
81
31
1997
259
104
40
90
35
1998
265
100
38
86
33
1999
278
104
37
89
32
2000
276
119
43
90
33
2001
259
91
35
79
31
2002
264
91
34
75
28
2003
293
107
37
90
31
2004
260
93
36
81
31
2005
275
89
32
85
31
2006
267
102
38
84
31

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

It is important to note that the Idaho 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 Idaho

In Idaho, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 2nd or subsequent offense with BAC equal to .20 is a felony, 3rd or subsequent offenses are felonies, DUI with bodily harm or disfigurement is a felony . Citation:§§18-8004C(1)(a) &(2)(a), 18-8005 & 18-8006 (2)

Sources for Idaho 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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