Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute have released a new report: An Analysis of 2016 Impaired Driving Crashes in Texas. The report details 2016 impaired driving crashes in Texas in order to better understand crash factors and trends in the State.
Approximately one-third of all motor vehicle crashes in Texas involve driving under the influence (DUI). Despite experiencing reductions, Texas must remain committed to reducing and preventing DUI crashes. What will assist Texas in reducing crashes is to have a clear understanding of what factors and trends are associated with DUI crashes. The following are key findings from an analysis performed on 2016 DUI crashes:
- There were 3,408 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2016. Of these crashes, 1,157 were fatal DUI crashes, meaning 33.95% of all fatal crashes in Texas involved a driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. While the overall number of fatal motor vehicle crashes increased from 3,187 to 3,408, the number of fatal DUI crashes actually decreased from 1,212 to 1,157 from 2015 to 2016, respectively.
- Approximately the same number of DUI fatal crashes occurred in rural and urban locations, with 585 and 572 respectively in 2016.
- More DUI fatal crashes occurred on Saturdays and Sundays (250 each) than any other day of the week in 2016.
- More DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes occurred between 2:00 – 2:59 AM than any other hour of the day, representing 10.28% of all DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes in 2016.
- More DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes occurred during the month of July than any other month of the year, representing 9.50% of all DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes in 2016.
- More DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes were single motor vehicle crashes than any other collision type (including angle, same direction, and opposite direction crashes).
- The most common age of an individual in a DUI fatal and incapacitating crash was 22 years old in 2016. The next most common age was 27.
- The average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of an individual who was DUI was 0.170 – more than twice the legal limit. Females had an average BAC of 0.174 while males had an average BAC of 0.169.
- Approximately 20% of drivers in DUI fatal and incapacitating crashes did not hold a valid driver’s license in 2016.
- 51% of drivers in DUI fatal crashes were not wearing a seatbelt.
