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Mississippi Drunk Driving Statistics

Mississippi experienced a dramatic drop in drunk driving deaths in the first six years since records were kept, going from a high of 423 alcohol related fatalities in 1982, to a low of 198 in 1988. In the subsequent years however, much of those gains were reversed. While these are actual numbers of deaths, the alcohol related fatality rate based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT)(see explanation below) has shown an overall improvement. 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
730
423
58
384
53
1983
715
310
43
284
40
1984
679
247
36
225
33
1985
662
238
36
207
31
1986
771
286
37
241
31
1987
756
242
32
213
28
1988
722
198
27
178
25
1989
727
255
35
231
32
1990
750
280
37
236
31
1991
714
282
40
251
35
1992
766
381
50
329
43
1993
813
392
48
334
41
1994
791
358
45
310
39
1995
868
363
42
333
38
1996
811
344
42
309
38
1997
861
352
41
323
38
1998
948
356
38
318
34
1999
927
367
40
330
36
2000
949
385
41
322
34
2001
784
277
35
248
32
2002
885
335
38
295
33
2003
871
320
37
288
33
2004
900
341
38
317
35
2005
931
371
40
331
36
2006
911
358
39
320
35

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

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.

Drunk driving or alcohol-related fatality statistics for Mississippi

It is important to note that the Mississippi 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 Mississippi

In Mississippi, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:§§63-11-30(2)(a) (b) & (c) (2)

Sources for Mississippi 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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