Texas has edged out California once again as the state with the most alcohol-related motor-vehicle fatalities and the highest number of fatalities with drivers over the .08% legal limit. These drunk driving statistics have shown improvement however. In 1982, the highest number of alcohol related deaths were reported, when 2,801 of our fellow citizens died. The lowest number were reported in 2008, with 1463. The percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was highest in 1982 also, with 66%. That percentage dropped to its lowest level in 2008 also, showing 43% of traffic fatalities as alcohol related.

For the most recent year reported, out of all traffic fatalities, 38% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 61% in 1982.

Year	Fatalities
	Tot	Alc-Rel	%	0.08+	%
1982	4,213	2,801	66	2,570	61
1983	3,823	2,503	65	2,311	60
1984	3,912	2,457	63	2,232	57
1985	3,678	2,271	62	2,021	55
1986	3,567	2,206	62	1,932	54
1987	3,260	1,951	60	1,688	52
1988	3,392	2,011	59	1,775	52
1989	3,370	1,927	57	1,729	51
1990	3,250	1,989	61	1,769	54
1991	3,078	1,814	59	1,604	52
1992	3,059	1,818	59	1,624	53
1993	3,043	1,748	57	1,567	52
1994	3,187	1,725	54	1,546	49
1995	3,183	1,739	55	1,534	48
1996	3,742	1,967	53	1,745	47
1997	3,513	1,710	49	1,521	43
1998	3,586	1,745	49	1,550	43
1999	3,522	1,700	48	1,479	42
2000	3,779	1,841	49	1,642	43
2001	3,736	1,807	48	1,587	42
2002	3,823	1,810	47	1,610	42
2003	3,675	1,709	47	1,500	41
2004	3,583	1,642	46	1,417	40
2005	3,504	1,569	45	1,371	39
2006	3,466	1,544	45	1,354	39
2007	3,363	1,485	44	1,292	38
2008	3,382	1,463	43	1,269	38

 

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

It is important to note that the Texas 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 Texas

In Texas, 1st offense is a class B misdemeanor, 2nd offense within 10 years is a class A misdemeanor, subsequent offenses are 3rd degree felonies. Citation:Penal Code §§12.21, 12.22, 12.34, 49.04 & 49.09 ⁽²⁾

Sources for Texas 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...

Learn how you can prevent drunk driving in your community and make money at the same time with your own vending machine business that alerts possible drunk driving with coin and bill operated, talking breath alcohol testers.