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Texas Drunk Driving Statistics

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 2005, with 1,544. The percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was highest in 1982 also, with 66%. That percentage dropped to its lowest level in 2005 also, showing 45% of traffic fatalities as alcohol related.

For the most recent year reported, out of all traffic fatalities, 39% 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
1544
45
1,354
39

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+).

Drunk driving or alcohol-related fatalities for Texas

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...

These alcohol breath testers work like vending machines.