|
Year
|
Fatalities
|
||||
|
Tot
|
Alc-Rel
|
%
|
0.08+
|
%
|
|
|
1982
|
1,061
|
622
|
59
|
515
|
49
|
|
1983
|
932
|
494
|
53
|
434
|
47
|
|
1984
|
922
|
451
|
49
|
380
|
41
|
|
1985
|
964
|
479
|
50
|
408
|
42
|
|
1986
|
1,039
|
490
|
47
|
394
|
38
|
|
1987
|
1,023
|
435
|
43
|
357
|
35
|
|
1988
|
1,051
|
457
|
43
|
392
|
37
|
|
1989
|
891
|
384
|
43
|
315
|
35
|
|
1990
|
886
|
366
|
41
|
304
|
34
|
|
1991
|
783
|
320
|
41
|
268
|
34
|
|
1992
|
763
|
280
|
37
|
222
|
29
|
|
1993
|
789
|
290
|
37
|
227
|
29
|
|
1994
|
761
|
289
|
38
|
251
|
33
|
|
1995
|
774
|
277
|
36
|
223
|
29
|
|
1996
|
814
|
283
|
35
|
229
|
28
|
|
1997
|
775
|
278
|
36
|
222
|
29
|
|
1998
|
741
|
267
|
36
|
207
|
28
|
|
1999
|
726
|
283
|
39
|
240
|
33
|
|
2000
|
731
|
322
|
44
|
271
|
37
|
|
2001
|
745
|
285
|
38
|
235
|
32
|
|
2002
|
771
|
281
|
36
|
240
|
31
|
|
2003
|
747
|
275
|
37
|
240
|
32
|
|
2004
|
731
|
270
|
37
|
227
|
31
|
|
2005
|
748
|
263
|
35
|
217
|
29
|
|
2006
|
771
|
285
|
37
|
224
|
29
|
|
2007
|
724
|
253
|
35
|
199
|
27
|
|
2008
|
590
|
197
|
33
|
154
|
26
|
|
2009
|
583
|
185
|
32
|
149
|
25
|
|
2010
|
556
|
187
|
34
|
153
|
27
|
|
2011
|
627
|
227
|
36
|
193
|
31
|
|
2012
|
589
|
211
|
36
|
164
|
28
|
|
2013
|
542
|
184
|
34
|
146
|
27
|
|
2014
|
556
|
201
|
36
|
163
|
29
|
The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the New Jersey, alcohol-related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).
All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while 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 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.
It is important to note that the New Jersey 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.”
Criminal status of DUI laws in New Jersey
In New Jersey, drunk driving is not a “crime”. Citation:State v Hamm 577 A.2d 1259 (NJ 1990) (2)
Sources for New Jersey drunk driving information and statistics
US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02
(2) National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004
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