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For one of every 170 miles driven in Virginia in 1999, a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >.08 sat behind the wheel. Police in Virginia reported 10,942 crashes involving a driver or pedestrian with a BAC of .01 or more. Formulas developed by NHTSA were used to estimate the number of alcohol-related crashes where alcohol involvement was not reported by the police. An estimated total of 89,060 crashes in Virginia involved alcohol which killed 320 and injured an estimated 14,200 people. Impaired Driving by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) In 1999, Virginia drivers with: • BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 84,700 crashes that killed 246 and injured 12,400 • BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 1,460 crashes that killed 22 and injured 600 • Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 2,900 crashes that killed 52 and injured 1,200 COSTS Alcohol is a factor in 24% of Virginia’s crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Virginia cost the public an estimated $2.6 billion in 1999, including $1.4 billion in monetary costs and almost $1.2 billion in quality of life losses. Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $1.7 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill. Costs perAlcohol-Related Injury The average alcohol-related fatality in Virginia costs $3.5 million: • $1.2 million in monetary costs • $2.3 million in quality of life losses The estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged 101,000: • $50,000 in monetary costs • $51,000 in quality of life losses Costs per Mile Driven Crash costs in Virginia averaged: • $4.80 per mile driven at BACs of .10 and above • $2.10 per mile driven at BACs between .08-.09 • $0.10 per mile driven at BACs of .00 Costs per Drink The societal costs of alcohol-related crashes in Virginia averaged $0.90 per drink consumed. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.60 per drink. Impact on Auto Insurance Rates Alcohol-related crashes accounted for an estimated 21% of Virginia’s auto insurance payments. Reducing alcohol-related crashes by 10% would save $54 million in claims payments and loss adjustment expenses. The estimates reported here were produced under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Contract DTNH22-98-D-35079, Task Order 7. Contact Information: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) 11710 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300 Calverton, Maryland 20705-3102 301-755-2700
