Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater) dropped by 14.4 percent from 924 in 2009 to 791 in 2010. The 2010 figure is the lowest DUI death total ever.
California’s alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate dropped from 0.31 in 2008 to 0.28 in 2009. California’s rate is much better than the national average of 0.36. Of the five largest states in terms of total traffic fatalities, (CA, FL, TX, PA, and NC), California has the best rate.
As a percent of total fatalities, alcohol-impaired fatalities decreased from 30 percent in 2009 to 29 percent in 2010. This number has remained virtually unchanged in the past five years. California is better than the national average of 31 percent.
In 2010, the 21-24 age group had the highest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes with BAC levels of 0.08 or higher – 30 percent (down from 33 percent in 2009).
DUI arrests have dropped in 2010 to 195,879 as compared to 208,531 in 2009. Note: the 2010 DUI arrest figure represents more DUI arrests than any year between 1997-2005. (DMV)
California’s statewide DUI conviction rate for 2008 is 79 percent. (2011 Annual Report of the California DUI Management Information System)
