Washington Drunk Driving Statistics

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
748
482
64
445
60
1983
698
421
60
374
54
1984
746
421
56
365
49
1985
744
407
55
351
47
1986
703
422
60
364
52
1987
780
431
55
382
49
1988
778
464
60
415
53
1989
781
428
55
372
48
1990
825
475
58
411
50
1991
682
370
54
325
48
1992
651
339
52
297
46
1993
661
340
51
308
47
1994
640
317
49
274
43
1995
653
322
49
277
42
1996
712
361
51
311
44
1997
674
304
45
257
38
1998
662
313
47
269
41
1999
637
274
43
249
39
2000
631
286
45
241
38
2001
649
281
43
242
37
2002
658
299
45
267
41
2003
600
259
43
228
38
2004
563
246
44
223
40
2005
647
294
45
253
39
2006
630
269
43
225
36
2007
568
230
40
195
34
2008
521
225
43
182
35
2009
492
232
47
206
42
2015
633
267
42
221
35
2016
537
186
35
161
30
2017
521
224
43
183
35
2018
546
195
36
166
30
2019
519
209
40
172
33
2020
560
238
43
199
35


The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Washington, 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 Washington 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.”

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 Washington

In Washington, all DUI offenses are gross misdemeanors. Citation:?? 9A.20.021, 46.61.502(5) & 46.61.504(5) (2)

Sources for Washington 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…