Traffic Fatalities
In 2022, there were 19 traffic fatalities, down from 34 in 2021. 9 of these (47.4%) involved drivers under the influence of alcohol. By comparison, alcohol was involved in 22.7% of traffic crash fatalities in New Mexico.
Traffic Fatalities in Alcohol-Involved Crashes
Of the 19 traffic fatalities (in 2022)
9 were in alcohol-involved crashes
9 were in alcohol-involved crashes
Trends, Traffic Crash Fatalities
The number of traffic fatalities were lower in 2020 and in 2022 than in the previous 10 years.
Trends, Alcohol-Involved Traffic Crashes
San Juan County is among the five worst counties in New Mexico for rates of alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes.
Over a longer period of time, there has been a gradual decline in the number of alcohol-involved traffic crashes, decreasing from 302 crashes with alcohol-impaired drivers in 2001, to 149 in 2020. The number of alcohol-involved crashes spiked somewhat in 2021, to 199.
Crashes involving alcohol-impaired underage drivers (under age 21) decreased to 11 in 2021.
Over a longer period of time, there has been a gradual decline in the number of alcohol-involved traffic crashes, decreasing from 302 crashes with alcohol-impaired drivers in 2001, to 149 in 2020. The number of alcohol-involved crashes spiked somewhat in 2021, to 199.
Crashes involving alcohol-impaired underage drivers (under age 21) decreased to 11 in 2021.
Alcohol-Involved Crashes with Drivers Under Age 21
Males are typically more likely to be the driver in an underage alcohol-involved crash compared to females. In 2021, the number of alcohol-involved crashes with male underage drivers decreased from 14 in 2020 to 6 in 2021.
Crash Severity
Alcohol-involved crashes are proportionally more severe, that is, are more likely to involve a fatality or injury.
In 2021 of the 199 alcohol-involved crashes; 7% of them (14) were fatal crashes and 43.2% involved an injury. By comparison, there were 2317 non-alcohol involved crashes; 1% of them (25) resulted in a fatality and 29.6% involved an injury.
In 2021 of the 199 alcohol-involved crashes; 7% of them (14) were fatal crashes and 43.2% involved an injury. By comparison, there were 2317 non-alcohol involved crashes; 1% of them (25) resulted in a fatality and 29.6% involved an injury.
Sources for alcohol-involved crashes are the Community Reports for San Juan County, New Mexico Department Transportation, Traffic Safety; published in collaboration with UNM Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS):
https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/community-reports.
Fatalities data are from the New Mexico Dept of Transportation Monthly Traffic Fatality Reports: https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/fatality-reports
DWI data and comparison rates were drawn from the NMDOT New Mexico DWI Reports: https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/annual-dwi-reports
National statistics for alcohol-involvement, available for 2018: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864
https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/community-reports.
Fatalities data are from the New Mexico Dept of Transportation Monthly Traffic Fatality Reports: https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/fatality-reports
DWI data and comparison rates were drawn from the NMDOT New Mexico DWI Reports: https://gps.unm.edu/tru/crash-reports/annual-dwi-reports
National statistics for alcohol-involvement, available for 2018: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864
An alternative rate for traffic crash data is 100M VMT (vehicle miles traveled), which takes into account distances traveled relative to crashes. San Juan Couny has a rate of 8.3 alcohol-involved crashes per 100M VMT, compared to New Mexico's rate pf 7.7.