Drunk driving prevention - Alcohol Alert
 HOME: Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics

Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics

1986 is the year with the most alcohol-related driving deaths reported in Virginia, with 606 fatalities. The lowest level reported is 337, which occurred in 1999. The highest percentage of traffic fatalities that were alcohol related was reported in 1983, with 57%, and the lowest percentage was 36%, reported in 2001 and again in 2006, showing a fairly steady decline.

In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 31% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 51% in 1983.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
881
493
56
438
50
1983
901
518
57
462
51
1984
1,013
572
56
504
50
1985
976
496
51
433
44
1986
1,126
606
54
513
46
1987
1,021
527
52
452
44
1988
1,072
501
47
427
40
1989
1,004
466
46
403
40
1990
1,079
540
50
460
43
1991
948
430
45
381
40
1992
839
373
44
325
39
1993
879
398
45
341
39
1994
930
385
41
340
37
1995
900
373
41
315
35
1996
877
353
40
307
35
1997
984
398
40
339
34
1998
935
359
38
303
32
1999
878
337
38
280
32
2000
929
360
39
303
33
2001
935
339
36
289
31
2002
914
379
41
327
36
2003
943
364
39
309
33
2004
925
359
39
307
33
2005
947
347
37
284
30
2006
961
347
36
300
31

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

It is important to note that the Virginia 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 total 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 Virginia

In Virginia, 1st DUI offense and 2nd offenses within 10 years are class 1 misdemeanors, 3rd offense within 10 years is a class 6 felony. Citation:§§18.2-10(f), 18.2-11(a) & 18.2-270 (2)

Sources for Virginia 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...

Save lives in your community and make money at the same time with these alcohol breath testers that work like vending machines.