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New Hampshire Drunk Driving Statistics

New Hampshire had a mind-boggling 81% of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related in 1986, which translates to 139 deaths. Since that time, the percentage and actual number of alcohol related fatalities has dropped by over half. 1992 showed the lowest number of drunk driving deaths, with 40. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 37% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, up from the previous year.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
173
111
64
98
57
1983
191
103
54
92
48
1984
192
109
57
96
50
1985
191
132
69
79
42
1986
172
139
81
75
44
1987
179
93
52
64
36
1988
166
84
51
64
38
1989
187
93
50
78
42
1990
158
77
48
67
42
1991
144
67
46
61
42
1992
122
40
32
36
30
1993
121
52
43
47
39
1994
119
50
42
45
38
1995
118
47
39
36
31
1996
134
47
35
41
31
1997
125
60
48
51
41
1998
128
63
49
45
35
1999
140
66
47
45
32
2000
126
49
39
45
35
2001
142
67
47
53
37
2002
127
50
39
45
35
2003
127
52
41
43
34
2004
171
59
35
51
30
2005
166
60
36
55
33
2006
127
51
40
47
37

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

It is important to note that the New Hampshire 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 bilcyclist) 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 New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, 1st - 3rd non-injury DUI offenses are misdemeanors, 4th or subsequent non-injury DUI offenses are felonies, and DUI with serious bodily injury is a class B felony. Citation:§§265:9 IV(A), 265:82 et.seq., & 651:2I(c) (2)

Sources for New Hampshire 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 stats in the US

Learn about alcohol breath testers that work like vending machines.