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Nevada Drunk Driving Statistics

Nevada had a whopping 68% of all fatalities that were alcohol related in 1982. While the number of traffic fatalities and miles driven has increased in the last twenty years, the percentage of those fatalities that were alcohol related has decreased. Unfortunately, the actual number of drunk drivers killed has not dropped significantly. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 33% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
280
191
68
170
61
1983
253
152
60
134
53
1984
249
135
54
119
48
1985
259
148
57
132
51
1986
233
135
58
115
49
1987
262
151
58
126
48
1988
286
162
57
135
47
1989
308
172
56
158
51
1990
343
203
59
184
54
1991
298
165
55
144
48
1992
254
125
49
114
45
1993
263
121
46
99
38
1994
294
144
49
123
42
1995
313
148
47
131
42
1996
348
170
49
143
41
1997
347
155
45
125
36
1998
361
176
49
137
38
1999
350
153
44
122
35
2000
323
140
43
119
37
2001
314
133
42
112
36
2002
381
165
43
143
37
2003
368
182
50
159
43
2004
395
152
39
133
34
2005
427
159
37
143
33
2006
432
168
39
142
33

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

It is important to note that the Nevada 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 Nevada

In Nevada, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd or subsequent offenses are category B felonies. Citation:§§193.120 & 484.3792 (2)

Sources for Nevada 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 alcohol breath testers that work like vending machines.