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Kansas Drunk Driving Statistics

In Kansas, the total number of alcohol related fatalities peaked in 1986. The percentage of drunk driving deaths out of the total traffic fatalities was also highest in 1986. Kansas experienced a general downward trend in alcohol related fatalities since 1982, but that trend reversed from 2001 through 2003. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 29% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

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
498
253
51
228
46
1983
411
214
52
185
45
1984
510
251
49
215
42
1985
486
214
44
191
39
1986
500
279
56
238
48
1987
491
248
50
202
41
1988
483
225
47
197
41
1989
428
194
45
165
39
1990
444
227
51
201
45
1991
409
189
46
164
40
1992
387
158
41
134
34
1993
428
157
37
132
31
1994
442
169
38
147
33
1995
442
184
42
164
37
1996
490
203
41
163
33
1997
482
147
30
128
27
1998
492
165
34
141
29
1999
540
193
36
162
30
2000
461
161
35
137
30
2001
494
193
39
167
34
2002
507
227
45
200
39
2003
471
206
44
182
39
2004
461
148
32
121
26
2005
428
151
35
122
28
2006
466
162
35
135
29

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

It is important to note that the Kansas 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 BAC value."

Criminal status of DUI laws in Kansas

In Kansas 1st offense is class B non-person misdemeanor, 2nd offense is a class A non-person misdemeanor, 3rd or subsequent offense is a non-person felony. Citation:§§8-1567(d), (e) (f) & (k)(3), & 21-4502(1) (2)

Sources for Kansas 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

These alcohol breath testing machines are coin-operated breathalyzers.