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Since 1990, alcohol-related fatalities have declined 30% (from 335), alcohol-related injuries have declined 57% (from 10,035), and alcohol-related crashes have declined 46% (from 13,309).

Crashes

The number and rate of alcohol-related crashes has increased very slightly over the past five years in Wisconsin, yet alcohol remains the single greatest driver contributing cause of fatal crashes.

In 2000, there were 9,096 alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin. An average of one person was killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash every 1.9 hours on Wisconsin roadways. Alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin accounted for 5.8% of all crashes

Fatalities

In 2008, alcohol was a contributing circumstance in 234 traffic deaths.

That represents 40% of all traffic fatalities. Of the 398 drivers who died in 2008, 362 (91%) were tested for alcohol. Of those tested, 147 (41%) tested positive for alcohol and 127 (35%) were legally intoxicated (0.08 % Alcohol Concentration (AC) or higher).

In 2008, 27% of all pedestrians and 44% of all motorcycle operators killed in crashes had an alcohol concentration of 0.08% AC or higher.

Injuries

During 2008, there were 4,319 alcohol-related injuries in crashes. This represents 9% of all crash injuries. Alcohol-related injuries have decreased by 70% since 1983, when there were 14,282 injuries.

Questions about the content of this page:
Sonya Sidky, Sonya.Sidky@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: January 21, 2011