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North Dakota Drunk Driving Statistics

In North Dakota, as with many states, the drunk driving fatalities were highest in the first few years that data collection started. Alcohol related deaths peaked in 1982, with 97, which represents 66% of the total traffic fatalities that year and the highest percentage in those twenty years. 1989 showed the lowest number of alcohol-related fatalities, with 38. From the most recent statistics, out of all traffic fatalities, 37% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
148
97
66
85
58
1983
116
72
62
66
57
1984
100
51
51
47
47
1985
90
54
60
46
51
1986
100
46
46
43
43
1987
101
57
56
54
54
1988
104
55
53
52
50
1989
81
38
47
33
40
1990
112
62
55
58
52
1991
94
51
54
47
50
1992
88
39
44
37
42
1993
89
44
49
41
46
1994
88
46
53
43
49
1995
74
43
58
37
49
1996
85
49
58
45
52
1997
105
54
51
51
49
1998
92
46
50
42
46
1999
119
58
49
50
42
2000
86
41
47
37
43
2001
105
53
51
45
43
2002
97
49
50
40
42
2003
105
52
50
47
44
2004
100
39
39
35
35
2005
123
58
47
46
37
2006
111
47
42
41
37

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the North Dakota, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

Drunk driving or alcohol-related fatality statistics for North Dakota

It is important to note that the North Dakota 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.

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to driving 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 [a motor vehicle] 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.

Criminal status of DUI laws in North Dakota

In North Dakota, 1st and 2nd offenses are class B misdemeanors, 3rd and 4th offenses are class A misdemeanors, 5th and subsequent offenses are class C felony. Citation:§§12.1-32-01 & 39-08-01 (2) & (4) (2)

Sources for North Dakota 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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