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Regional Statistics
What Are the Maryland Numbers?
In 2002, there were 659 highway fatalities. 265 were alcohol-related. 40% of those 659 deaths were caused because someone chose to drink and drive.
(On a national level, there were 42,116 people killed on our roads - 17,419 were alcohol-related. 40% of all national highway fatalities were caused by an impaired driver.)
66,000 - number of 12-17 year olds in Maryland who drank alcohol in the past month.
37,000 - number of 12-17 year olds in Maryland who drank 5+ drinks per day in the past month.
2,031,000 - number of adults in Maryland who drank alcohol in the past month.
702,000 - number of adults in Maryland who drank 5+ drinks per day in the past month.
320 - number of juveniles arrested for DUI in Maryland.
22,695 - number of adults arrested for DUI in Maryland.
$3.76 billion dollars - estimated cost to Maryland associated with alcohol abuse.
These numbers came from Drugs in Maryland: 2003 Update from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR)
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| 17 & Under |
47 |
29 |
| 18 - 20 |
164 |
143 |
| 21 & Over |
1526 |
1567 |
|
TOTAL |
1737 |
1739 |
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| Males |
1408 |
1430 |
| Females |
329 |
309 |
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| Breath |
1078 |
1028 |
| Blood |
46 |
55 |
| Refusals |
612 |
655 |
| Not Offered |
1 |
1 |
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| .00 - .04 |
73 |
54 |
| .05 - .06 |
36 |
22 |
| .07 - .09 |
31 |
20 |
| .10+ |
938 |
932 |
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| Collision |
178 |
179 |
| Non-Collision |
420 |
485 |
|
Total |
598 |
664 |
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
| Suspended |
114 |
125 |
| Revoked |
18 |
29 |
| Both |
38 |
59 |
|
Total |
170 |
213 |
In 2004, there were 1,139 alcohol related crashes with 37 DWI fatalities and 653 DWI injuries.
The use and abuse of alcohol and its influence on motor vehicle crashes continues to plague the area. Approximately 843 crashes are attributed to alcohol each year in the county. On an average, 23 people are killed and another 341 are injured annually. These crashes cost $116 million dollars each year.
The majority of alcohol related crashes (75%) occurred on dry roadway surfaces on clear/cloudy days while 13% occurred on wet roadway surfaces on rainy days. Over half of alcohol related crashes occurred during night-time hours. 2am and 3am were the most frequent times for alcohol related crashes with midnight, 1am, 6pm and 10pm following as the next frequent times to be involved in an alcohol related crash. The majority of alcohol crashes occurred on state and county roads while only 18% occurred on interstate roads. April, May and September and weekend nights (Saturday and Sunday) showed the greatest number of alcohol related crashes as compared to other month and days. 86 percent of the alcohol related crashes involved male drivers while 14% of the crashes involved their female counterpart. Even though seat belt use is up in the county, when alcohol is involved in a fatal crash, 47% of the drivers are not wearing a seatbelt and 67% of their passengers are not belted in.
The crux of the impaired driving problem is not so much the lack of adequate laws, but the lack of consistent enforcement and prosecution.
Information taken from the Strategic Plan for Motor Vehicle Injury and Fatality Prevention, October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2005 Prince George's County Highway Safety Program
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