Despite recent reductions in fatalities, impaired driving remains one of America's deadliest social problems. In 2004, nearly 13,000 drivers or motorcycle operators died in crashes with a BAC level of .08 or above- the illegal limit in all states. Most people don't intend to drive home drunk, but too many find themselves at the end of the night without a sober designated driver. Unfortunately, many of these drivers convince themselves and friends that they are able to drive with the comment, "I'm okay, I'm just buzzed."

Statistics

In Indiana, like most states, there has been a decline in drunk driving deaths and in the percentage of total fatalities that are alcohol related in the last twenty years. The most drunk driving deaths occurred in 1988, with 530, while the percentage of alcohol related fatalities peaked in 1982 and 1986 with 52% of the total traffic deaths. In 2005, out of all traffic fatalities, 29% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, the highest level in several years.