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Ohio Drunk Driving Statistics

In Ohio, alcohol related deaths and traffic fatalities in general reached their highest points in 1987, with 1,007 and 1,772, respectively. The year that showed the highest percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was 1982, with 60%. The lowest number of alcohol-related deaths occurred in 2006, with 451. In that same year, out of all traffic fatalities, 31% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 54% in 1982.

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.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
1,607
966
60
864
54
1983
1,582
919
58
824
52
1984
1,646
957
58
844
51
1985
1,646
927
56
812
49
1986
1,673
978
58
855
51
1987
1,772
1,007
57
876
49
1988
1,748
946
54
809
46
1989
1,772
834
47
744
42
1990
1,638
745
45
652
40
1991
1,636
730
45
653
40
1992
1,439
535
37
466
32
1993
1,478
577
39
510
34
1994
1,370
455
33
394
29
1995
1,360
486
36
410
30
1996
1,391
509
37
430
31
1997
1,441
528
37
465
32
1998
1,422
531
37
467
33
1999
1,430
535
37
466
33
2000
1,366
562
41
494
36
2001
1,378
608
44
509
37
2002
1,418
558
39
491
35
2003
1,277
467
37
402
31
2004
1,286
492
38
418
32
2005
1,323
505
38
409
31
2006
1,235
451
37
377
31

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

It is important to note that the Ohio 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 Ohio

In Ohio, 1st and 2nd offenses are 1st degree misdemeanors, 3rd offense is a misdemeanor, subsequent offenses are 4th degree felonies. Citation:§§2929.14, 2929.16, 2929.18(B)(3), 2929.19(C), 2929.21 & 4511.99(A) (2)

Sources for Ohio 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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