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Under the influence of alcohol and other substances

Road safety

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 32.82% of all traffic fatalities between 2014 and 2016.*

42%

Forty-two percent of car drivers and 49% of motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes were driving under the influence of alcohol.

SOURCE: 2012-2018 PUERTO RICO FATALITIES, PRTSC.

56%

56% of the drivers under the influence of alcohol were speeding at the time of the crash.

SOURCE: 2012-2018 PUERTO RICO FATALITIES, PRTSC.

0.19%

The average BAC for drivers and motorcyclists who died was 0.19% and 0.14%, respectively, which represents more than two (2) and seven (7) times what is allowed for them.

SOURCE: 2012-2018 PUERTO RICO FATALITIES, PRTSC.

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Target

To reduce the 5-year moving average of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities from 97 to 90 within the next 5 years.

Strategic goal

Reduce alcohol-impaired driver fatalities.

Performance goal

5-year moving average of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.

Limits for Puerto Rico

BAC limit

0.00%
0.02%
0.02%
0.08%

Driver type

Driver
Driver
Heavy and Commercial Vehicle Driver, Motorcyclist, Motorcyclist
Driver

Ages

16-17 years old
18-20 years old
18+ years old
21+ years old

 

Estrategias

*This number does not include intoxicated drivers due to other substances such as illegal or prescription drugs. The collection of this data is also important to determine the actual impact of other substances on traffic crashes.
crashes.
Alcohol Impaired Driver: Any driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than that established in the Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act (Act 22, 2000).

1

Continue to enforce the law against drivers under the influence of alcohol and other controlled substances.

2

Orient staff of premises that sell alcohol (e.g., liquor stores and bars) to the legal responsibilities when their drunken customers cause a fatal or injury crash.

3

Continue prevention and education efforts on the impact of driving under the influence of alcohol and other controlled substances.

4

Evaluate recidivism and identify ways to improve the effectiveness of drunk driving rehabilitation programs.

5

Improve notifications of blood alcohol content testing of victims, dead or alive, involved in crashes.