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Montana Drunk Driving Statistics

In Montana, the number of drunk driving deaths peaked in 1983, with 184.  The percentage of total highway fatalities that were alcohol related peaked in 1985 with 69%. Since then, Montana has had an overall decline in both figures, with the lowest numbers reported in 1996. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 40% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
254
171
67
147
58
1983
286
184
64
168
59
1984
238
145
61
120
50
1985
223
154
69
135
60
1986
222
122
55
105
47
1987
234
143
61
130
56
1988
198
117
59
103
52
1989
181
94
52
81
45
1990
212
119
56
107
50
1991
200
112
56
104
52
1992
192
104
54
95
50
1993
195
115
59
99
51
1994
202
104
52
94
46
1995
215
95
44
84
39
1996
200
78
39
73
37
1997
265
124
47
112
42
1998
237
105
44
89
37
1999
220
109
49
98
45
2000
237
117
49
107
45
2001
230
104
45
96
42
2002
269
126
47
107
40
2003
262
128
49
108
41
2004
229
106
46
100
43
2005
251
124
49
112
45
2006
255
114
45
103
40

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

It is important to note that the Montana 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 Montana

In Montana, 1st , 2nd and 3rd offenses are misdemeanors, 4th and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:§§61-8-401, 61-8-711(1), 61-8-714, 61-8-731 & 61-8-734 (2)

Sources for Montana 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

Learn about breathalyzers that work like vending machines.