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Oklahoma Drunk Driving Statistics

In Oklahoma, alcohol-related deaths were highest in the first year that data collection started, which was 608 fatalities in 1982. The percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was also highest the same year, with 58%. The year with the lowest number of alcohol-related deaths recorded was 2000, with 229. The percentage of traffic fatalities that are alcohol related has steadily declined in the last twenty years to reach its lowest level in 2006, with 32%. Also in 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 26% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, almost half of what is was in 1982.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
1,054
608
58
523
50
1983
848
437
52
389
46
1984
797
382
48
339
43
1985
744
353
47
301
41
1986
698
340
49
285
41
1987
597
254
43
221
37
1988
638
298
47
258
40
1989
648
284
44
257
40
1990
641
284
44
246
38
1991
652
292
45
252
39
1992
613
273
45
242
39
1993
671
284
42
245
37
1994
687
281
41
240
35
1995
669
258
39
230
34
1996
772
295
38
249
32
1997
838
328
39
291
35
1998
755
268
35
240
32
1999
741
258
35
224
30
2000
650
229
35
194
30
2001
682
270
40
234
34
2002
739
251
34
215
29
2003
668
255
38
220
33
2004
774
278
36
245
32
2005
802
283
35
249
31
2006
765
243
32
201
26

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

It is important to note that the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, 1st offense is a misdemeanor, 2nd and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:47 §11-902 (2)

Sources for Oklahoma 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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