Puerto Rico Drunk Driving Statistics

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
480
267
56
242
50
1983
514
294
57
261
51
1984
545
349
64
305
56
1985
600
383
64
334
56
1986
592
392
66
333
56
1987
614
383
62
342
56
1988
585
384
66
330
56
1989
542
321
59
277
51
1990
473
285
60
248
52
1991
495
267
54
222
45
1992
571
333
58
278
49
1993
600
337
56
279
47
1994
598
308
52
253
42
1995
595
327
55
272
46
1996
601
322
54
278
46
1997
592
293
49
253
43
1998
558
291
52
240
43
1999
558
249
45
207
37
2000
568
268
47
217
38
2001
495
256
52
220
44
2002
518
241
47
198
38
2003
493
233
47
183
37
2004
494
248
50
221
45
2005
453
217
48
184
41
2006
507
176
35
144
28
2007
452
185
41
148
33
2008
399
162
41
132
33
2009
365
141
39
109
30
2010
340
120
35
97
29
2011
359
128
36
101
28
2012
347
128
37
104
30
2013
344
158
46
127
37
2014
304
131
43
93
31
2015
509
177
35
143
28
2016
279
118
42
92
33
2017
405
155
38
123
30
2018
308
147
48
123
40
2019
289
104
36
80
28
2020
242
92
38
77
32

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Puerto Rico, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

chart of drunk driving statistics in Puerto Rico from 1982 to 2020

It is important to note that the Puerto Rico 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 and Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico

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

Sources for Puerto Rico 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…

Alcohol breath tests