The number of alcohol-related deaths in New Jersey has dropped significantly from a high of 622 in 1982, to a low of 197 in 2008. The percentage of fatalities that were alcohol related has also dropped steadily, from a high of 59% in 1982, to a low of 33% in 2008.

Year	Fatalities
	Tot	Alc-Rel	%	0.08+	%
1982	1,061	622	59	515	49
1983	932	494	53	434	47
1984	922	451	49	380	41
1985	964	479	50	408	42
1986	1,039	490	47	394	38
1987	1,023	435	43	357	35
1988	1,051	457	43	392	37
1989	891	384	43	315	35
1990	886	366	41	304	34
1991	783	320	41	268	34
1992	763	280	37	222	29
1993	789	290	37	227	29
1994	761	289	38	251	33
1995	774	277	36	223	29
1996	814	283	35	229	28
1997	775	278	36	222	29
1998	741	267	36	207	28
1999	726	283	39	240	33
2000	731	322	44	271	37
2001	745	285	38	235	32
2002	771	281	36	240	31
2003	747	275	37	240	32
2004	731	270	37	227	31
2005	748	263	35	217	29
2006	771	285	37	224	29
2007	724	253	35	199	27
2008	590	197	33	154	26

 

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

It is important to note that the New Jersey 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."

Criminal status of DUI laws in New Jersey

In New Jersey, drunk driving is not a "crime". Citation:State v Hamm 577 A.2d 1259 (NJ 1990) ⁽²⁾

Sources for New Jersey 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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