Massachusetts Drunk Driving Statistics

In Massachusetts, alcohol related fatalities peaked in 1983, with 409, and then nearly reached the same level in 1986 and 1988, with 405 and 408, respectively. Since then, those numbers have dropped, reaching their lowest level in 2008, with 151 alcohol related fatalities. Also in 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 34% 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
659
407
62
369
56
1983
651
409
63
364
56
1984
666
411
62
362
54
1985
742
390
53
338
46
1986
752
405
54
341
45
1987
689
377
55
331
48
1988
725
408
56
348
48
1989
696
384
55
322
46
1990
605
349
58
304
50
1991
552
288
52
244
44
1992
485
262
54
223
46
1993
475
208
44
175
37
1994
440
212
48
185
42
1995
444
193
43
167
38
1996
417
184
44
154
37
1997
441
198
45
159
36
1998
406
184
45
146
36
1999
414
195
47
161
39
2000
433
216
50
175
40
2001
477
228
48
198
42
2002
459
224
49
191
42
2003
462
207
45
170
37
2004
476
203
43
181
38
2005
442
171
39
150
34
2006
422
159
38
137
32
2007
417
177
42
146
35
2008
363
151
42
124
34

 

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

It is important to note that the Massachusetts 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 bicyclist) 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 Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, 1st and 2nd offenses are unclassified, 3rd and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:Ch. 90 §24(1)(a) & Ch. 274 §1 (2)

Sources for Massachusetts 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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