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Utah Drunk Driving Statistics

Alcohol-related deaths in Utah were highest in 1984, with 140 reported. Actual deaths plummeted to 65 in 1998 and peaked again in 2000, with 107 and back down to a new low of 37 in 2005. The percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was also highest in 1984, showing 44%, and lowest in 2005, with just 13%.

In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 19% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 39% in 1984, but higher than the year before.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
295
120
41
105
36
1983
283
112
39
93
33
1984
315
140
44
123
39
1985
303
116
38
103
34
1986
313
117
37
102
33
1987
297
98
33
84
28
1988
297
119
40
101
34
1989
303
93
31
84
28
1990
272
71
26
62
23
1991
271
86
32
70
26
1992
269
86
32
71
27
1993
303
89
30
73
24
1994
343
96
28
77
23
1995
325
92
28
83
25
1996
321
88
27
72
22
1997
366
81
22
65
18
1998
350
65
18
54
15
1999
360
90
25
74
21
2000
373
107
29
91
24
2001
291
70
24
56
19
2002
328
71
22
65
20
2003
309
46
15
39
12
2004
296
72
24
70
24
2005
282
37
13
35
12
2006
284
63
22
54
19

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

It is important to note that the Utah 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 Utah

In Utah, 1st and 2nd offenses are class B misdemeanors, 3rd and subsequent offenses are 3rd degree felonies. Citation:§§41-6-44 (3), (6) & (7) (2)

Sources for Utah 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.