Do alcohol-related crashes differ by gender?
Crashes involving men are much more likely than those involving women to be alcohol-related. Among fatally injured male drivers of passenger vehicles in 1999, 34 percent had BACs of .10 percent or more. The corresponding proportion among women was 16 percent. Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes is highest for men ages 21-40. There have been some reports that women are becoming an increasing part of the alcohol-impaired crash problem. According to national roadside breath surveys, more women now are driving at night. The percentage of women in a weekend nighttime sample of drivers increased from 16 percent in 1973 to 26 percent in 1986 to 31 percent in 1996. The increase from 1973 to 1986 was accompanied by a reduction in the percentage of women with high BACs. However, in the period between 1986 and 1996, the percentage of women with high BACs has increased — but not significantly.
Crashes involving men are much more likely to be alcohol related than those involving women. Among fatally injured male drivers of passenger vehicles in 2000, 34 percent had BACs of 0.10 or more. The corresponding proportion among women was 18 percent. Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes is highest for men ages 21-40.
