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Nebraska Drunk Driving Statistics

The highest number of alcohol related fatalities in Nebraska occurred in 1986, with 141. The percentage of total highway fatalities that were alcohol related peaked in 1988, with 52%. The lowest numbers for both statistics were reported in 1992, with 91 drunk driving deaths, which represented 34% of the total traffic fatalities that year. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 26% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
261
131
50
112
43
1983
255
125
49
111
44
1984
285
133
47
113
40
1985
237
101
43
85
36
1986
290
141
49
119
41
1987
297
130
44
99
33
1988
261
135
52
113
43
1989
296
118
40
100
34
1990
262
110
42
93
36
1991
275
118
43
95
35
1992
269
91
34
71
26
1993
254
106
42
78
31
1994
271
117
43
88
33
1995
254
94
37
73
29
1996
293
102
35
85
29
1997
302
108
36
93
31
1998
315
120
38
96
31
1999
295
126
43
105
36
2000
276
104
38
79
29
2001
246
94
38
75
31
2002
307
117
38
96
31
2003
293
121
41
99
34
2004
254
92
36
78
31
2005
276
91
33
78
28
2006
266
86
32
70
26

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

It is important to note that the 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 Nebraska

In Nebraska, 1st and 2nd offenses and 3rd offense within 12 years are class W misdemeanors; 4th and subsequent offenses within 12 years are class IV felonies; injury related DUI offenses are class IIIA felonies. Citation:§§28-105, 28-106, 60-6,196 & 60-6,198 (2)

Sources for Nebraska 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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