This document discusses the dangers of drinking and driving from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It notes that in 2016 over 10,000 deaths resulted from alcohol-impaired driving crashes where the driver had a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Risk of crashes increases exponentially even at low BAC levels between 0.01-0.07. The risks of impaired driving lead to death apply regardless of location, time of day, vehicle type, or driver demographics. The document urges people to have a sober driver if drinking and to never drive impaired.

1. NHTSA Drunk Driving Awareness
August 15 – September 3

2. What Really Happens When We Consume Alcohol?
As alcohol levels rise in a person’s system, the negative effects on
the central nervous system increase, too. Alcohol is absorbed
directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then
it passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is
metabolized by the liver. Alcohol level is measured by the weight of
the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called Blood
Alcohol Concentration, or BAC.

3. Continued
• At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood (g/dL),
crash risk increases exponentially.
• Even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2016,
there were 2,017 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where
drivers had lower alcohol levels (BACs of .01 to .07 g/dL). This is
well under the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.

4. Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,497
deaths from alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2016
• These numbers only reflect the drivers who had a BAC of .08 g/dL (Grams Per
Deciliter) or higher.
• Every 50 minutes of the year 2016, 1 alcohol-impaired –driving fatality occurred
• The estimated cost of all alcohol impaired crashes for 2010 was $44 Billion
• Of the traffic fatalities in 2016 among children 14 and younger, 17 percent occurred in
alcohol-impaired-driving crashes
• The 25- to 34-year-old age group had the highest percentage (27%) of drivers with
BACs of .08 g/dL or higher in fatal crashes compared to other age groups in 2016

5. Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
• The percentage of drivers with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher in fatal crashes in 2016 was
highest for fatalities involving motorcycle riders (25%), compared to passenger cars (21%),
light trucks (20%), and large trucks (2%)
• The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2016 was 3.3
times higher when the fatal crashes occurred at night than during the day
• In 2016 among the 10,497 alcohol impaired-driving fatalities, 67 percent (7,052) were in
crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .15 g/dL or higher
• A total of 1,233 children 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in
2016. Of those 214 were in alcohol-impaired crashes

6. Of Those 214 Child Deaths (Our Most Innocent)
•115 (54%) were occupants of vehicles with drivers
who had BACs of .08 +;
•61 (29%) were occupants in other vehicles;
•36 (17%) were nonoccupants (peds, cyclists, etc.); and
•2 (< 1%) were drivers (14 and below)

7. Fatalities, by Role, in Crashes Involving at Least One Driver
With a BAC of .08 g/dL or Higher, 2016
Role Number % of Total Fatalities
Driver with BAC of .08 + 6,479 62%
Passenger Riding with Driver with a BAC
of .08 +
1,550
15%
Subtotal 8,029 76%
Occupants of Other Vehicles 1,520 14%
Nonoccupants (pedestrians/cyclists, etc.) 948
9%
Total Alcohol-Impaired-Driving
Fatalities
10,497 100%
Source: FARS 2016 Annual Report File (ARF).
Note: Percentages may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding

8. Previous 5 Year Driving Records of Drivers Involved in
Fatal Crashes, by BAC, 2016 (NHTSA)
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
No Alcohol (BAC .00) BAC .01-.07 BAC .08+ BAC .15+
Previously Recorded Crashes Previously Recorded Speeding Convictions
Previously Recorded DWI Convictions Previously Recorded Suspensions or Revocations

9. Why is Alcohol Dangerous When Driving?
Blood Alcohol
Concentration
(BAC)
Typical Effects Predictable Effects on Driving
.02
Some loss of judgment; relaxation, slight body
warmth, altered mood
Decline in visual functions, decline in the ability to perform two
tasks at the same time
.05
Exaggerated behavior, may have loss of small-
muscle control (e.g., focusing your eyes), impaired
judgment, usually good feeling, lowered alertness,
release of inhibition
Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects,
difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving
situations
.08
Muscle coordination becomes poor (e.g., balance, speech,
vision, reaction time, and hearing), harder to detect danger;
judgment, self-control, reasoning, and memory are
impaired
Concentration, short-term memory loss, speed control, reduced
information processing capability, and impaired perception
.10
Clear deterioration of reaction time and control,
slurred speech, poor coordination, and slowed
thinking
Reduced ability to maintain lane position and appropriate
braking requirements
.15
Far less muscle control than normal, vomiting may occur
(unless this level is reached slowly or a person has
developed a tolerance for alcohol), major loss of balance
Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to the
driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information
processing
At .15 BAC
you are 380
times more
likely to be in
a fatal crash
than you are
sober.
Source: NHTSA

10. Percentage of Alcohol-Impaired Drivers Involved in
Fatal Crashes in 2016 by Month
0.00% 1.00% 2.00% 3.00% 4.00% 5.00% 6.00% 7.00% 8.00% 9.00% 10.00%
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
By Month

11. Percentage of Fatal Crashes by Land Use
It Doesn’t Matter Where You Live
Urban Rural
50% 50%

12. How About The Effect of Weather?
Other
Clear/Cloudy
Rain
WEATHER

13. Does Light Play a Factor?
Light Conditions
Dark Daylight Dusk Dawn

14. Deaths by BAC Rates Across the Country in 2016
• BAC of .01 or higher totaled 12,514
• With Texas leading at 1,670, California at 1,247 and Florida at 987 to round
out the top three.
• BAC of .08+ totaled 10,497
• With Texas again leading at 1,438, California at 1.059 and Florida bringing up
the rear at 841.
• BAC at .15+ totaled 7,052
• You guessed it: Texas 949, California 676 and Florida had 566
• The District of Columbia had the lowest in all categories: roughly 14, 10 & 6

15. The Obvious
• If you will be drinking, plan on not driving.
Plan your safe ride home before you start the
party. Designate a sober driver ahead of time.
• If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call
a taxi, phone a sober friend or family
member, use public transportation, etc.
Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app
which helps you identify your location and
call a taxi or friend to pick you up.
• If someone you know has been drinking, do
not let that person get behind the wheel. Take
their keys and help them arrange a sober ride
home.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road,
contact local law enforcement. Your actions
could help save someone’s life.

16. It’s Your Decision
We have seen and discussed the ramifications on drinking and driving. Now
make the right choice. Take an Uber, a cab, a Lyft, call a friend or even a parent
or child (that drives of course), and get home safely.
You do not want to live with knowing you caused the death of a innocent
person, a child, or a family because you had a few. Don’t throw it all away.
Be the designated driver for those around you. Step up, and get them all home
safely.

17. Always Remember, We’re Here to Help
6301 Ivy Lane, Suite 506
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Toll Free: 800.222.4664
Fax: 301.474.6196
www.telcominsgrp.com
MAB@telcominsgrp.com 301.220.1085
CSR@telcominsgrp.com 903.424.7453
Facebook.com/TelcomInsGrp