Impaired Driving

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for everyone aged 5-34. Nationally, one in three car crash death involves a drunk driver. In 2012, Alaska State Troopers made 1,662 DUI arrests across the state of Alaska. The State of Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that the average cost of a first time DUI is $24,265.

 

Prevention

If you choose to drink, make a plan before drinking to prevent drinking and driving. Encourage friends not to drink and drive, call a taxi if you have been drinking, or designate a sober driver. Additionally, avoid binge drinking. It is estimated that 85% of drinking and driving episodes are reported by binge drinkers. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more (for men) or four or more (for women) drinks on one occasion. Between 18.7%-25.6% of Alaskans report binge drinking.

ALCOHOL’S ROLE IN MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES/INJURIES

Alcohol-Related Fatalities (includes non-drivers):

Year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Percent	31.1%	42.7%	43.5%	40.6%	33.9%	31.9%	20.8%
Number	23	35	27	26	19	23	11

Data retrieved from the Alaska Highway Safety Office’s 2012 Alaska Traffic Fatality Count.