Vermont Drunk Driving Statistics

The highest number of drunk driving deaths in Vermont occurred in 1986, with 77 fatalities reported. Alcohol related deaths have dropped dramatically since then to a low of 15 in 2008. The percentage of fatalities that were alcohol related has also shown a significant decline, from a high of 71% in 1986, to a low of 21% in 2008.

In 2008, out of all traffic fatalities, 16% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 54% in 1983.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
107
70
65
54
50
1983
94
60
64
51
54
1984
114
61
53
51
45
1985
115
55
48
46
40
1986
109
77
71
53
48
1987
119
73
62
58
49
1988
129
67
52
58
45
1989
116
57
49
42
36
1990
90
52
57
42
47
1991
110
60
55
47
43
1992
96
41
43
37
39
1993
110
51
46
42
38
1994
77
37
48
32
42
1995
106
48
45
40
38
1996
88
40
45
36
41
1997
96
40
42
36
38
1998
104
40
38
33
32
1999
90
35
39
29
32
2000
76
32
42
29
38
2001
92
34
37
32
35
2002
78
27
35
22
28
2003
69
29
41
21
30
2004
98
32
32
20
20
2005
73
29
40
28
38
2006
86
28
33
26
30
2007
66
26
39
22
34
2008
73
15
21
12
16

 

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

In Vermont, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:13 §1 & 23 §1210 (2)

Sources for Vermont 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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