|
Year
|
Fatalities
|
||||
|
Tot
|
Alc-Rel
|
%
|
0.08+
|
%
|
|
|
1982
|
105
|
71
|
67
|
65
|
61
|
|
1983
|
100
|
60
|
60
|
53
|
53
|
|
1984
|
79
|
52
|
66
|
41
|
52
|
|
1985
|
109
|
57
|
52
|
51
|
47
|
|
1986
|
124
|
79
|
64
|
67
|
54
|
|
1987
|
113
|
56
|
49
|
52
|
46
|
|
1988
|
125
|
69
|
55
|
58
|
47
|
|
1989
|
100
|
49
|
49
|
45
|
45
|
|
1990
|
84
|
51
|
61
|
45
|
53
|
|
1991
|
88
|
45
|
51
|
36
|
41
|
|
1992
|
79
|
43
|
54
|
39
|
50
|
|
1993
|
74
|
40
|
54
|
35
|
48
|
|
1994
|
63
|
31
|
49
|
23
|
37
|
|
1995
|
69
|
28
|
41
|
26
|
38
|
|
1996
|
69
|
33
|
48
|
26
|
38
|
|
1997
|
75
|
41
|
55
|
36
|
48
|
|
1998
|
74
|
36
|
49
|
27
|
37
|
|
1999
|
88
|
36
|
41
|
28
|
32
|
|
2000
|
80
|
41
|
52
|
37
|
46
|
|
2001
|
81
|
48
|
59
|
38
|
47
|
|
2002
|
84
|
46
|
55
|
37
|
44
|
|
2003
|
104
|
57
|
55
|
52
|
50
|
|
2004
|
83
|
42
|
50
|
41
|
49
|
|
2005
|
87
|
43
|
50
|
34
|
39
|
|
2006
|
81
|
37
|
46
|
29
|
36
|
|
2007
|
69
|
32
|
47
|
25
|
36
|
|
2008
|
65
|
29
|
45
|
25
|
38
|
|
2009
|
83
|
40
|
48
|
34
|
40
|
The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, non-injury DUI offenses are misdemeanors, DUI with serious bodily injuries are felonies. Citation:?? 11-1-2 & 31-27-2.6 (2)
Sources for Rhode Island 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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