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et al. Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz

Drunk Driving Statistics

In 1982, 43,945 people in the United States died in car crashes, less than 11,000 deaths short of the entire American body count for the Vietnam War. In 1988, the death toll climbed to a high of 47,087, and in 1992 it dropped to 39,250; by 1995, it was at 41,798.
The number of annual traffic fatalities caused by alcohol has decreased by nearly 32 percent, from 25,165 in 1982 to 17,274 in 1995. As a percentage of traffic fatalities, alcohol-related crashes dropped from 57 percent in 1982 to 41 percent in 1995.
Transportation Department figures also show that whereas the numbers of alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased for persons in younger age groups, they have generally increased for older people.
Almost 3,000 drivers in the 75 and older category caused fatal crashes while intoxicated behind the wheel in 1995.