Virginia Driving Trends 1998-2007

There were 11,215 alcohol-related crashes in Virginia in 2007. This represents 7.7 percent of all crashes. The same year, alcohol-related crashes resulted in 7,130 injuries and 378 deaths. Deaths caused by alcohol-related crashes made up 36.8 percent of traffic deaths in 2007.

Approximately 75 percent of drinking drivers were male. Of those convicted of DUI in 2007, 80.5 percent were male. Out of 378 fatalities, 311 were male.

Among drinking drivers, the largest percentage were in the 21-25 age group, followed by drivers aged 26-30. Drivers aged 21-25 also made up the largest proportion of drivers who were obviously drunk at the time of the crash (1,162 out of 4,928).

In 2007, there were 1,255 drinking drivers involved in crashes who were under the legal drinking age of 21. There were 30 teenaged fatalities in alcohol-related crashes, and an additional 759 injuries to teenagers.

Only 24.2 percent of alcohol-involved crashes occurred under daylight conditions in 2007. Another 71.6 percent of crashes occurred while it was dark – roughly half occurred in areas where the road was lighted, and half where the road was unlighted.

In 2007, the average blood alcohol content of tested drinking drivers was 0.1407.

Source: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vacrashfacts_07.pdf