This Month

SANDAG newsletter
provides information
on key projects & services

California Transportation Commission holds hearing
at SANDAG

511 celebrates its first year
in operation
Alcohol-related fatalities decline, but DUIs remain concern

Local companies can glitter
with Diamond Awards
Free workshop aims to
increase workplace flexibility

Work begins on
SR 52 extension
SANDAG receives
upgraded bond ratings

January Board Actions available online

Alcohol-related fatalities decline,
but DUIs remain a concern

The SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division provides brief monthly faxes that report on current projects and other topics of interest to criminal justice agencies, school administrators, public officials, city and county administrators, social service and health agencies, and the general public. In addition, the Division also produces CJ Bulletins on arrests, crime, and arrestee drug use on an annual basis, along with other special bulletins. If you would like to receive these bulletins by fax please contact Donna Allnutt at dal@sandag.org.

The combination of drinking alcohol and operating a motor vehicle can be lethal. The California Highway Patrol reported 1,420 alcohol-related fatality crashes in California in 2006, representing 37 percent of all traffic collisions. This percentage was the same for San Diego County, with 101, or 37 percent, of all fatal collisions found to be alcohol-related. These incidents involved the death of the driver, the passenger, or a victim in another vehicle. Although the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs reports decreases in highway fatalities since the 1980s (down 57% in California since 1988), the number of alcohol-related fatality collisions has been fairly constant in San Diego County over the past five years (a high of 109 in 2002 and a low of 99 in 2003). However, arrests for DUIs (alcohol or drugs) have increased during this same time period. Specifically, there were 466 felony-level DUI arrests in 2006, compared to 443 in 2002 (5% increase), and 17,661 misdemeanor-level in 2006, compared to 15,516 in 2002 (14% increase).

In addition, the percentage of arrestees booked into local facilities who reported either riding in a motor vehicle with someone under the influence, or driving while under the influence themselves, indicates a large percentage of individuals are taking part in this risky behavior whether or not it comes to the attention of law enforcement. As Figure 1 illustrates in the attached PDF, over half of the arrestees interviewed as part of the Substance Abuse Monitoring (SAM) program (including adults and juveniles) reported DUI-related behavior that puts others on the road at risk.

These data, examined in the context of fatal crashes, highlight the potential forharm that exists on the road with so many individuals combining substance use and driving. The information also supports continuing prevention efforts to reduce the number of individuals who participate in DUI behaviors.

Project Manager:
Dr. Cynthia Burke, Director, Criminal Justice Research Division
Phone: (619) 699-1910, E-mail: cbu@sandag.org