State Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Testing and Reporting for Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes: Current Practices, Results, and Strategies, 1997–2009

Casanova, Tara; Hedlund, James; Tison, Julie · 2012 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report, commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and conducted by the Preusser Research Group, addresses the critical need for accurate Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) data for drivers involved in fatal crashes. Reliable BAC reporting is essential for developing alcohol-impaired driving programs, evaluating their effectiveness, and monitoring national trends. The study was motivated by substantial variations in reporting rates across states and years, with the goal of identifying best practices to improve testing and reporting infrastructure. It serves as an update to a 2004 study, focusing on strategies that states have used to maintain high testing rates or overcome barriers to data collection. The research methodology combined quantitative analysis of Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 1997 to 2009 with qualitative assessments of state practices. Researchers analyzed nationwide BAC testing rates for both fatally injured and surviving drivers. They conducted telephone interviews with NHTSA regional offices and state FARS staff to identify changes in laws, practices, and reporting obstacles. Additionally, the study performed detailed case studies on nine states—Alaska, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Dakota—selected for their high or improving testing rates. These case studies involved consultations with law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and laboratory staff to document specific procedures, benefits, and lessons learned. The findings reveal that nationwide known BAC rates for fatally injured drivers remained constant at approximately 70% from 1997 to 2006, rising to 75.9% in 2008. Rates for surviving drivers were lower, hovering around 26% before increasing to 29.3% in 2008. State-level performance varied significantly, with 2008 rates for fatally injured drivers ranging from 25.0% to 98.6%. The study found that while mandatory testing laws generally correlate with higher testing rates, they do not guarantee success without strong implementation policies. Conversely, some states achieved high testing rates (exceeding 80%) under probable-cause standards through effective policies and practices. The case studies identified three key components for success: high testing rates, accurate and complete reporting, and careful management involving inter-agency cooperation and dedicated staff. The report concludes that successful BAC testing and reporting requires a holistic approach involving laws, policies, and management strategies. To improve rates, states should adopt policies that test all drivers involved in fatal crashes whenever legally permitted, rather than relying solely on probable cause. Strategies include simplifying reporting processes through electronic systems, establishing clear inter-agency responsibilities via memoranda of understanding, and ensuring adequate funding and training for medical examiners and law enforcement. The authors emphasize that tracking and following up on missing BAC results are critical, as are strong relationships between FARS analysts and local agencies. These findings provide a framework for states to enhance data accuracy, thereby supporting more effective countermeasures against alcohol-impaired driving.

Key finding

Nationwide known BAC rates for fatally injured drivers rose from 68.1 percent in 1997 to 71.1 percent in 2009, while rates for surviving drivers increased from 26.0 percent to 27.2 percent, with significant variation across states driven by implementation policies rather than laws alone.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• alcohol
• dui enforcement