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Illinois 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 Illinois, the highest number of alcohol related fatalities and the highest percentage of total fatalities as drunk driving deaths both occurred the same year, which was 1982. Since that time, the percentage and the actual number of alcohol related deaths has decreased substantially. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 35% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
1,651
1,014
61
879
53
1983
1,526
909
60
817
54
1984
1,547
892
58
780
50
1985
1,534
835
54
723
47
1986
1,596
869
54
748
47
1987
1,654
843
51
742
45
1988
1,837
939
51
812
44
1989
1,748
898
51
779
45
1990
1,589
826
52
707
44
1991
1,448
736
51
629
43
1992
1,384
680
49
575
42
1993
1,392
638
46
557
40
1994
1,554
687
44
600
39
1995
1,586
700
44
614
39
1996
1,477
678
46
590
40
1997
1,397
597
43
505
36
1998
1,393
619
44
525
38
1999
1,456
646
44
543
37
2000
1,418
628
44
536
38
2001
1,414
623
44
537
38
2002
1,420
653
46
556
39
2003
1,453
639
44
539
37
2004
1,356
604
45
517
38
2005
1,361
580
43
477
35
2006
1,254
540
43
444
35

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Illinois, 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 fatality stats for Illinois

It is important to note that the Illinois 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 Illinois

In Illinois, 1st and 2nd offenses are class A misdemeanors, 3rd and subsequent offenses are class 4 felonies. Citation:625 ILCS 5/11-501 and 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(7) & 5-8-3 (a)(1) (2)

Sources for Illinois 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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