2009 FACT SHEET
District of Columbia Drunk Driving Facts
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the District declined by 43.8-percent from 2007 to 2008. (There were 16 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the District in 2007, and nine in 2008. ) In 2008, alcohol-related traffic fatalities (.08 BAC +) represented 29-percent of all traffic fatalities in the District, and 55-percent in 2007. To date, alcohol-related fatalities comprise 38-percent of District traffic deaths in 2009, already surpassing percentage totals for 2007 and 2008.
Motorcycle Crash Facts
Nationally, motorcycle fatalities have continued to increase the past 11 years, accounting for 14-percent of the total traffic fatalities in 2008. The national percentage of motorcycle fatalities involving alcohol has remained largely unchanged since 1998, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all motorcycle fatalities in 2007. However, the proportion of traffic fatalities in the District of Columbia involving motorcyclists reached their highest level last year (24 percent) in at least a half-decade (2004 - 2008). Motorcyclist injuries in the U.S. have more than doubled in the last decade (110-percent increase, 1998 - 2007). Fatalities involving motorcyclists quadrupled from 2007 to 2008 in the District, from two to eight.More than one-third (36 percent) of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in the District of Columbia last year had been drinking.
Checkpoint Strikeforce
Checkpoint Strikeforce is a research-based, zero-tolerance initiative within the Mid-Atlantic States, designed to catch and arrest drunk drivers via sobriety checkpoints and to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving.Males between the ages of 21 and 35 are the primary target audience. This demographic group is typically harder to reach with public awareness campaigns and statistically at the highest risk for drunk driving.The campaign is supported in the District of Columbia by a grant from the District Department of Transportation.
Law Enforcement Component
Last year in the District, there were 1,225 DUI arrests. To date in 2009, there have been 954 DUI arrests.So far in 2009, there has been a combination of 28 sobriety checkpoints and saturations patrols in the DC metro area. Law enforcement agencies are planning to conduct at least one sobriety checkpoint every week throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia through the end of 2009.Sobriety checkpoints are a highly targeted way to fight drunk driving as they are strategically timed when and located where drunk driving is more likely to occur, making them amongst the most effective tools to stop drunk driving.Aggressively deployed sobriety checkpoints can result in a 20-percent reduction in alcohol-related crashes.
Public Opinion
A July 2009 public opinion survey of Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia drivers found:
The biggest fear of adults is killing or injuring someone else as a result of driving while intoxicated (70-percent), more than arrest (seven-percent) or their own death (11-percent).Seventy-seven percent of adults perceive drunk driving as one of the most serious dangers faced on the road.Seventy-six percent of adults strongly support the use of sobriety checkpoints.Eighty-three percent of adults admitted that they would not change their behavior despite knowing sobriety checkpoints were being held in their area.
Public Awareness Component
Complementing the aggressive deployment of sobriety checkpoints is a proactive, highly visible, resonant advertising and public awareness effort. A $300,000 multi-media campaign, encompassing radio and Internet, will run over 5,000 ads on targeted stations from September through December. The creative ads were written and produced utilizing the findings from the campaign’s opinion poll, ensuring the messages resonate and connect with the target audience of 21 to 35-year old males in D.C. An additional 200 ads targeting motorcycle enforcement will run via cable TV and radio during the two weeks surrounding Labor Day.
Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/dcdui.html" http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/dcdui.html to hear Greater Washington’s 2009 Checkpoint Strikeforce ads, learn about the District’s DUI penalties and receive additional information.
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Ibid
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Motorcycle Crash Facts, NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts: District of Columbia, 2004-2008
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts, July 2009, DOT HS 811 149
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts: District of Columbia, 2004-2008
Ibid
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
HYPERLINK "http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/alcohol_enforce.html" \l "cite18" Insurance Institute for Highway Safety MWR Strategies for Checkpoint Strikeforce, July 2009
2009 FACT SHEET
Virginia Drunk Driving Facts
In 2008, 43-percent of Virginia’s traffic fatalities (354) were alcohol-related. This represents a six-percent decrease in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities from 2007 to 2008. The number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2008 is among the lowest in a decade in Virginia. Nationally, alcohol-related traffic fatalities at .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration) or above decreased 9.7- percent, from 13,041 in 2007 to 11,773 in 2008. In 2008, 25,758 persons were tested with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or higher in Virginia.
Checkpoint Strikeforce
Checkpoint Strikeforce is a research-based, zero-tolerance initiative within the Mid-Atlantic States designed to catch and arrest drunk drivers via sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. Males between the ages of 21 and 35 are the primary target audience. This demographic group is typically harder to reach with public awareness campaigns and statistically at the highest risk for drunk driving. The campaign is supported locally by a grant from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Highway Safety Office.
Law Enforcement Component
Last year in Virginia, there were over 1,429 sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols which resulted in 45,558 DUI arrests, averaging 125 arrests per day. Of those convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) in Virginia in 2008, nearly 80-percent (79.36-percent) were male. State and/or local law enforcement agencies are planning to conduct at least one sobriety checkpoint and/or saturation patrol every week throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia through the end of 2009. Aggressively deployed sobriety checkpoints can result in a 20-percent reduction in alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Sobriety checkpoints are a highly-targeted way to fight drunk driving as they are strategically timed and located where drunk driving is more likely to occur, making them amongst the most effective tools to stop drunk driving.
Public Opinion
A July 2009 public opinion survey of Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia drivers found:
The biggest fear amongst this group of local male drivers as a result of driving while intoxicated is killing or injuring someone else (75-percent), more than arrest (two-percent) or their own death (ten-percent). Nearly three-quarters (72-percent) of these local drivers perceive drunk driving as one of the most serious dangers faced on area roadways. More than nine-out-of-ten (93-percent) of this group of local male drivers support the use of sobriety checkpoints. Nearly two-out-of-five (19-percent) of these local drivers said that they would (or have) changed their behavior knowing that sobriety checkpoints were being held in their area.
Public Awareness Component
Complementing the aggressive deployment of sobriety checkpoints is a proactive, highly visible, resonant advertising and public awareness effort. This year, significant effort has been put toward an ad campaign and educational outreach in Virginia. The creative ads were written and produced utilizing the findings from the campaign’s opinion poll, ensuring the messages resonate and connect with the target audience of 21-35 year old males. Nearly 34,000 radio and television spots will run on a total of 125 broadcast stations, cable systems and radio stations in Virginia between August and December. Additionally, targeted Internet advertising is expected to garner approximately five million impressions over the course of the campaign.
Get more information at HYPERLINK "http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/educate.html" http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/educate.html, and listen to the ads at HYPERLINK "http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/vadui.html" http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/vadui.html.
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) 2008 Crash Facts
Ibid
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) 2008 Crash Facts
Ibid
Ibid
HYPERLINK "http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/alcohol_enforce.html" \l "cite18" Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
MWR Strategies for Checkpoint Strikeforce, July 2009
2009 FACT SHEET
Maryland Drunk Driving Facts
In 2008, Maryland’s 152 alcohol-related traffic fatalities represented 26 percent of all traffic fatalities, lower than the national average of 32 percent. From 2007 to 2008, Maryland saw a 15 percent decrease in alcohol-related traffic deaths. Nationally, alcohol-related traffic fatalities at .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration) or above decreased 9.7 percent, from 13,041 in 2007 to 11,773 in 2008. In 2008, 24,000 arrests were made for DUI in Maryland, averaging 66 arrests per day.
Checkpoint Strikeforce
Checkpoint Strikeforce is a research-based, zero-tolerance initiative designed to catch and arrest drunk drivers through the implementation of sobriety checkpoints, and to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. Males between the ages of 21 and 35 are the primary target audience. This demographic group is typically harder to reach with public awareness campaigns and statistically at the highest risk for drunk driving.
Public Opinion
A July 2009 public opinion survey of 21-35-year-old males in Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia found:
The biggest fear amongst this group of local male drivers as a result of driving while intoxicated is killing or injuring someone else (75-percent), more than arrest (two-percent) or their own death (ten-percent). Nearly three-quarters (72-percent) of these local drivers perceive drunk driving as one of the most serious dangers faced on area roadways. More than nine-out-of-ten (93-percent) of this group of local male drivers support the use sobriety checkpoints. Nearly two-out-of-five (19-percent) of these local drivers said that they would (or have) changed their behavior knowing that sobriety checkpoints were being held in their area.
Law Enforcement Component
Last year in Maryland, checkpoints resulted in 43,797 contacts made to raise public awareness of increased enforcement. Law enforcement agencies are planning to conduct at least one sobriety checkpoint or saturation patrol every week throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The checkpoint blitz will continue through the end of 2009. Sobriety checkpoints are a highly targeted way to fight drunk driving because they are strategically timed when and located where drunk driving is more likely to occur, making them amongst the most effective tools to stop drunk driving. Aggressively deployed sobriety checkpoints can result in a 20 percent reduction in alcohol-related crashes. Maryland will be conducting 30 sobriety checkpoints during a two week enforcement blitz from August 21 – September 7, 2009 during NHTSA’s 2009 Impaired Driving National Enforcement Crackdown.
Media and Public Awareness Component
Complementing the deployment of sobriety checkpoints is a highly visible, resonant advertising and public awareness effort outlining the consequences of impaired driving. A significant effort has been put toward an ad campaign and educational outreach in Maryland. The creative ads were written and produced to connect with the target audience of 21-35 year old males. The ads utilize the findings of the campaign’s opinion poll to create messages that hit home with the target audience. More than 5500 ads will run on a total 16 broadcast stations, cable systems and radio stations in Maryland between August and December.
Get more information at HYPERLINK "http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/educate.html" http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/educate.html and listen to the ads at HYPERLINK "http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/mddui.html" http://www.checkpointstrikeforce.net/mddui.html.
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Ibid
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Maryland State Highway Administration
Checkpoint Strikeforce/MWR Strategies: Survey of Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia Area Drivers, July 2009
HYPERLINK "http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/alcohol_enforce.html" \l "cite18" Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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