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West Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics

In West Virginia, the highest number of alcohol related fatalities was 253, recorded in 1983, and the lowest number was 126, recorded in 2005. The  highest percentage of fatalities that were alcohol related occurred in 1983 also, with 60%, declining to 33% in 2004.

In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 32% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, down from 53% in 1983.

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
450
244
54
226
50
1983
425
253
60
225
53
1984
438
238
54
201
46
1985
420
219
52
199
47
1986
440
242
55
217
49
1987
471
239
51
210
45
1988
460
250
54
224
49
1989
468
235
50
204
44
1990
481
239
50
215
45
1991
414
202
49
176
42
1992
420
203
48
182
43
1993
429
190
44
176
41
1994
356
162
46
148
41
1995
376
168
45
148
39
1996
348
138
40
119
34
1997
381
152
40
140
37
1998
354
150
42
134
38
1999
395
149
38
135
34
2000
411
181
44
165
40
2001
376
136
36
119
32
2002
439
179
41
161
37
2003
394
148
37
126
32
2004
411
136
33
114
28
2005
374
126
34
116
31
2006
408
155
38
129
32

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

It is important to note that the West 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 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 West Virginia

In West Virginia, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd and subsequent offenses are felonies. Citation:§17C-5-2 (2)

Sources for West 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...

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