New Mexico Drunk Driving Statistics
Year |
Fatalities |
||||
Tot |
Alc-Rel |
% |
0.08+ |
% |
|
1982 |
577 |
375 |
65 |
329 |
57 |
1983 |
531 |
350 |
66 |
320 |
60 |
1984 |
497 |
326 |
66 |
293 |
59 |
1985 |
535 |
320 |
60 |
284 |
53 |
1986 |
499 |
322 |
65 |
280 |
56 |
1987 |
568 |
373 |
66 |
322 |
57 |
1988 |
487 |
332 |
68 |
293 |
60 |
1989 |
538 |
321 |
60 |
281 |
52 |
1990 |
499 |
323 |
65 |
289 |
58 |
1991 |
469 |
270 |
58 |
248 |
53 |
1992 |
460 |
285 |
62 |
263 |
57 |
1993 |
431 |
254 |
59 |
225 |
52 |
1994 |
447 |
240 |
54 |
212 |
47 |
1995 |
485 |
240 |
49 |
215 |
44 |
1996 |
485 |
247 |
51 |
221 |
46 |
1997 |
484 |
224 |
46 |
194 |
40 |
1998 |
424 |
196 |
46 |
171 |
40 |
1999 |
460 |
206 |
45 |
177 |
39 |
2000 |
432 |
213 |
49 |
177 |
41 |
2001 |
464 |
216 |
47 |
183 |
39 |
2002 |
449 |
219 |
49 |
192 |
43 |
2003 |
439 |
198 |
45 |
170 |
39 |
2004 |
521 |
211 |
40 |
185 |
36 |
2005 |
488 |
189 |
39 |
172 |
35 |
2006 |
484 |
155 |
32 |
136 |
28 |
2007 |
413 |
152 |
37 |
133 |
32 |
2008 |
366 |
118 |
32 |
105 |
29 |
2009 |
361 |
129 |
36 |
114 |
32 |
The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the New Mexico, 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 Mexico 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 Mexico
In New Mexico, 4th offense is a 4th degree felony (fewer offenses not classified). Citation:??31-18-15 & 66-8-101 (2)
Sources for New Mexico drunk driving information and statistics
US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02
(2)National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004