Driving drunk or under the influence is a criminal offense in all states.
The NHTSA reports that approximately 28 people die daily in America due to drunk driving. That amounted to one person dead every 52 minutes in recent years. Although drunk driving deaths have decreased by a third over the past three decades, drunk driving crashes still claim about 10,000 lives per year. The most recent statistics from 2019 state that the deaths and damages from drunk driving led to a loss of $52 billion that year.
Alcohol reduces the ability of the brain, impairs thinking, muscle coordination, and reasoning. All of these functions are vital to driving a vehicle safely. For this reason, it is important that people never drink and drive.
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The Basic Problem of Drinking and Driving
As we drink alcohol, the negative effects on the central nervous system rise. Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream directly through the small intestine and stomach. It quickly passes into the blood, and it accumulates until the liver metabolizes it.
The level of alcohol in the blood is measured by the weight of the substance in a certain amount of blood. This is known as blood alcohol concentration or BAC. With a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter, the risk of a crash rises dramatically. Because of the higher risk of a crash with .08% BAC, it is illegal to drive with this level in all 50 states. But remember that even a small amount of alcohol in the blood can affect your ability to drive.
Plus, you can be prosecuted for causing an accident while intoxicated even if your BAC was below the legal limit. Recent data shows that in 2019, over 1,800 people died in drunk driving accidents where the drivers had a BAC that was below .08%.
It is important to remember that men and women metabolize alcohol differently due to size, weight and other factors. Women generally can become legally intoxicated faster than men, as the image below illustrates.
If you are convicted of drunk driving, you may have to do jail time, pay fines, pay higher insurance rates and more. Many people who have a DUI on their record have trouble finding employment and getting a college loan. If you injure or kill someone in a drunk driving accident, you may have a felony on your record for life that will make finding work very difficult in some situations.
Why Drinking and Driving Is Dangerous
Alcohol is a type of depressant that slows down the functions of the central nervous system. This means your normal brain functions are slowed, and you are unable to perform routine tasks critical to driving normally. Alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on your information processing skills or cognitive skills. It also reduces your hand-eye coordination, known as psychomotor skills.
Drinking alcohol before you drive greatly enhances the chance of a serious or fatal car accident. The more alcohol you consume, the more likely it is that you will have an accident. When you drink, most of the skills and abilities that are required for safe driving, including judgment, concentration, coordination, comprehension, visual acuity and reaction time, are seriously compromised.
Drunk Driving By the Numbers
If you ever have thought about drinking and driving, hopefully the statistics detailed below will make you think twice.
- In 2019, 10,142 people were killed in DUI crashes, and estimates suggest that 290,000 were injured.
- Every day, approximately 800 people in the United States are injured in a drunk driving accident.
- Someone is injured in a drunk driving crash every two minutes.
- About 25% of car accidents with teenagers involve an underage drinking driver.
- In 2019, 16% of all drivers who were in fatal accidents during the week were intoxicated, compared to 29% on Friday and Saturday night.
- In the US, the number of DUI deaths has been cut by more than half since 1980, largely through driver education and public service announcements.
- In 2019, 43% of drivers who were fatally injured had alcohol or drugs in their system and 14% had both.
- Two out of three people on average in the US will be involved in a drunk driving accident in their lives.
- In 2018, nearly 12 million Americans reported driving under the influence of illegal drugs in the last year.
- Americans drank too much and drove an estimated 111 million times in the last year.
- This is more than 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day.
- In fatal car accidents in 2019, the largest percentage of drunk drivers were those from 21 to 24, accounting for 27% of all accidents.
- Drunk driving in fatal accidents in 2019 was three times higher at night than during the day - 32% vs. 9%.
- Drunk driving costs each American adult at least $500 per year.
Below is an illustration of the number of DUI arrests in 2013 per 10,000 drivers in each state. States with the highest number of DUI arrests include Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona and Colorado.
Who Is Drinking and Driving?
According to the CDC, drivers aged 21 to 24 are the most likely demographic to drink and drive. Generally, younger drivers are more prone to take risks with drinking and driving because they often feel invincible and believe that nothing bad can happen to them.
However, the CDC also reports a significant decline in this risky behavior among high school teenagers. Since 1991, the percentage of high school teenagers who drink and drive has decreased by more than half. Despite this progress, in 2019, several hundred thousand high school teenagers still engaged in drinking and driving. Although reduced, teen drivers remain disproportionately likely to be involved in fatal DUI accidents compared to adult drivers.
Additionally, 85% of teenagers in high school who reported drinking and driving in the past 30 days also reported binge drinking; this is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic beverages within two hours. Furthermore, one in five teen drivers involved in fatal accidents had some level of alcohol in their system in 2019. More than 80% of these drivers had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that was higher than the legal limit for adults.
The pattern of higher involvement in drunk driving accidents also extends to gender differences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), men are more likely to be involved in drunk driving incidents. In 2019, 21% of men were intoxicated in fatal accidents, compared to 14% of women. This disparity highlights ongoing challenges in addressing and mitigating the risks of drunk driving across different demographics.
Solutions for Drinking and Driving
There are simple things all of us can do to reduce drinking and driving in our personal lives:
- If you plan to drink, make plans for not driving. Plan a ride home before you go to a bar or anywhere you will be drinking. With Uber and Lyft available in so many cities today, there really is no excuse for getting behind the wheel after you have been drinking.
- If you drink any amount of alcohol, do not drive. Even if your BAC is well under the limit, your judgement and coordination can be impaired. And if you are in an accident, you still can be charged with drunk driving even if you are under the legal limit for your state.
- If you have been drinking and do not have a ride home, you need to call a taxi or a ride service to get home safe. The NHTSA has a SaferRide app that you can use on your cell phone to call a family member or friend for a ride. It will pinpoint your exact location and help you to arrange to be picked up.
- If you have a party or event where alcohol is served, be sure that every guest has a safe ride home. Some states will allow the person who provided alcohol at an event to be sued in a personal injury action if injury or death was involved in a drunk driving accident.
States with the Most and Least Drinking and Driving
To determine the states with the highest and lowest drunk driving accident rates in the United States, we analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), state transportation departments, and law enforcement agencies. The number of reported drunk driving accidents per 100,000 residents was considered, and the states were ranked based on their total accident rates per 100,000 residents. Population data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure accuracy in rate calculations.
The States with the Most Drunk Driving Accidents
| Rank | State | Population | Drunk Driving Accidents | Accident Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 29,145,505 | 8,500 | 29.2 |
| 2 | California | 39,512,223 | 10,500 | 26.6 |
| 3 | Florida | 21,538,187 | 6,000 | 27.8 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 10,439,388 | 3,000 | 28.7 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 12,801,989 | 3,500 | 27.3 |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,711,908 | 2,800 | 26.1 |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,799,448 | 3,100 | 26.3 |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,671,821 | 3,400 | 26.8 |
| 9 | Michigan | 10,077,331 | 2,600 | 25.8 |
| 10 | New York | 19,336,776 | 4,900 | 25.3 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 6,910,840 | 1,850 | 26.8 |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,278,717 | 2,000 | 27.5 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 5,148,714 | 1,500 | 29.1 |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,169,038 | 1,650 | 26.7 |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,631,393 | 2,250 | 26.1 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,822,434 | 1,650 | 28.3 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,467,673 | 1,200 | 26.9 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 4,648,794 | 1,250 | 26.9 |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,903,185 | 1,350 | 27.5 |
| 20 | Indiana | 6,805,985 | 1,800 | 26.4 |
| 21 | Colorado | 5,773,714 | 1,550 | 26.9 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 3,956,971 | 1,100 | 27.8 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 5,639,632 | 1,450 | 25.7 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 3,017,804 | 800 | 26.5 |
| 25 | Nevada | 3,080,156 | 850 | 27.6 |
Detailed Analysis of the Top 10 States with the Most Drunk Driving Accidents
- Texas
- Accident Rate: 29.2 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Texas tops the list with the highest number of drunk driving accidents due to its large population, extensive road networks, and high number of vehicles. The state’s diverse urban and rural environments contribute to the challenge of addressing drunk driving, despite ongoing public awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts.
- California
- Accident Rate: 26.6 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: California’s extensive population and vast road networks, combined with a significant number of events and entertainment venues that serve alcohol, contribute to its high rate of drunk driving accidents. The state is continually working to improve road safety through stricter DUI laws, public education campaigns, and enhanced enforcement efforts.
- Florida
- Accident Rate: 27.8 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Florida’s high rate of drunk driving accidents is influenced by its large tourist population, high traffic volumes, and widespread nightlife. The state focuses on DUI checkpoints, stricter laws, and public education to combat drunk driving.
- North Carolina
- Accident Rate: 28.7 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: North Carolina’s mix of urban and rural areas, along with a growing population, contributes to its high rate of drunk driving accidents. The state is addressing this issue through increased enforcement of DUI laws and public safety campaigns.
- Pennsylvania
- Accident Rate: 27.3 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Pennsylvania’s large population and varied geography, including both densely populated urban areas and expansive rural regions, lead to a high number of drunk driving incidents. Efforts to reduce these accidents include enhanced law enforcement presence and public awareness initiatives.
- Georgia
- Accident Rate: 26.1 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Georgia’s rapid urbanization and high traffic congestion contribute to its drunk driving accident rate. The state is working on stricter DUI enforcement and public education to reduce these incidents.
- Ohio
- Accident Rate: 26.3 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Ohio’s extensive roadways and significant urban centers contribute to its high rate of drunk driving accidents. The state focuses on DUI checkpoints and public education to address this ongoing issue.
- Illinois
- Accident Rate: 26.8 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Illinois’ dense population, particularly in urban areas like Chicago, leads to a high number of drunk driving accidents. The state is enhancing law enforcement efforts and public awareness to combat impaired driving.
- Michigan
- Accident Rate: 25.8 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Michigan’s combination of urban and rural areas results in a significant number of drunk driving accidents. The state is working on stricter DUI laws and targeted enforcement to reduce these incidents.
- New York
- Accident Rate: 25.3 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: New York’s large population and extensive transportation networks contribute to its high rate of drunk driving accidents. The state focuses on public education, strict enforcement of DUI laws, and innovative programs like ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat offenders.
The States with the Least Drunk Driving Accidents
| Rank | State | Population | Drunk Driving Accidents | Accident Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,989 | 80 | 12.8 |
| 2 | Wyoming | 578,759 | 75 | 13.0 |
| 3 | Alaska | 731,158 | 95 | 13.0 |
| 4 | North Dakota | 762,062 | 100 | 13.1 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 884,659 | 115 | 13.0 |
| 6 | Maine | 1,344,212 | 175 | 13.0 |
| 7 | Montana | 1,068,778 | 140 | 13.1 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,359,711 | 180 | 13.2 |
| 9 | Hawaii | 1,416,589 | 190 | 13.4 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,361 | 145 | 13.7 |
| 11 | Delaware | 973,764 | 135 | 13.9 |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,792,147 | 250 | 13.9 |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,787,065 | 245 | 13.7 |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,934,408 | 260 | 13.4 |
| 15 | New Mexico | 2,096,829 | 290 | 13.8 |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,190,369 | 425 | 13.3 |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,017,804 | 800 | 26.5 |
| 18 | Nevada | 3,080,156 | 850 | 27.6 |
| 19 | Colorado | 5,773,714 | 1,550 | 26.9 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,822,434 | 1,650 | 28.3 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 9,288,994 | 2,250 | 26.1 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 4,467,673 | 1,200 | 26.9 |
| 23 | Louisiana | 4,648,794 | 1,250 | 26.9 |
| 24 | Maryland | 6,165,129 | 2,000 | 25.9 |
| 25 | Alabama | 4,903,185 | 1,350 | 27.5 |
Detailed Analysis of the Top 10 States with the Least Drunk Driving Accidents
- Vermont
- Accident Rate: 12.8 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Vermont has the lowest rate of drunk driving accidents, which can be attributed to its small population, rural setting, and strong community-oriented enforcement of DUI laws. The state also emphasizes public education and the importance of safe driving.
- Wyoming
- Accident Rate: 13.0 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Wyoming’s low population density and rural roads contribute to fewer drunk driving accidents. The state focuses on strict enforcement of DUI laws and public awareness campaigns to maintain road safety.
- Alaska
- Accident Rate: 13.0 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Alaska’s remote locations and smaller population result in fewer drunk driving accidents. The state prioritizes public education and enforcement to prevent impaired driving.
- North Dakota
- Accident Rate: 13.1 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: North Dakota’s lower accident rate is influenced by its rural nature, lower traffic volumes, and effective enforcement of DUI laws. The state also focuses on public safety initiatives and educational campaigns.
- South Dakota
- Accident Rate: 13.0 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: South Dakota’s sparse population and rural roads contribute to its lower rate of drunk driving accidents. The state emphasizes education and strict enforcement of DUI laws to maintain road safety.
- Maine
- Accident Rate: 13.0 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Maine’s rural landscape and lower traffic density contribute to fewer drunk driving accidents. The state focuses on public education and enforcement of DUI laws to ensure road safety.
- Montana
- Accident Rate: 13.1 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Montana’s wide-open spaces and rural roads result in a lower rate of drunk driving accidents. The state emphasizes the dangers of impaired driving through public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement.
- New Hampshire
- Accident Rate: 13.2 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: New Hampshire’s smaller population and effective traffic law enforcement help maintain a lower rate of drunk driving accidents. The state promotes road safety through public education and strict enforcement of DUI laws.
- Hawaii
- Accident Rate: 13.4 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Hawaii’s isolated location and unique road conditions contribute to its lower drunk driving accident rate. The state focuses on raising awareness about impaired driving and enforcing related laws.
- Rhode Island
- Accident Rate: 13.7 per 100,000 residents
- Factors: Rhode Island’s small geographic size and population help reduce the incidence of drunk driving accidents. The state is committed to public education and enforcing DUI laws to keep roads safe.
State Penalties for Drinking and Driving
Currently, all states but Utah define drunk driving as having a BAC at 0.08 percent or higher. Specific laws and penalties for drinking and driving vary widely by state. As of the end of 2018, the BAC for drunk driving in Utah will be reduced to 0.05 percent. Below is more information about DUI laws in other states.
- 48 states have increased the penalties in recent years for drivers who have a BAC above .08 percent.
- 42 states and Washington DC have administrative license suspensions for the first DUI.
- All states have an ignition interlock system program. Judges can require some or all convicted drunk drivers to install an interlock device on their vehicle that will disable the engine if alcohol is detected on their breath. Twenty four states have made ignition interlocks mandatory for all convicted drunk drivers, including first time offenders.
Spreading Information Is Key
One of the reasons that drunk driving and drunk driving accidents have fallen by ⅓ in the last 30 years is the message has gotten out: Drunk driving kills thousands of people every year. Governments, public safety organizations, parents and students all have been effective working together to spread the message of the dangers of drinking and getting behind the wheel.
One of the most memorable public service messages about drunk driving began in 1983 by the National Ad Council: Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Since the program was launched in 1983, almost 70% of Americans surveyed stated they have tried to prevent someone from drinking and driving. The National Ad Council has run a similar public service advertisement that read: Drinking and driving can kill a friendship.
Hopefully continuing efforts by all stakeholders in the United States will help to reduce drinking and driving injuries and deaths even lower. Together, great progress has been made, but more can be done.
Criminal Defense Assistance
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, or you lost a loved one to a drunk driver, you have legal options available.
References
- Drunk Driving. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
- Impaired Driving Laws by State. (n.d.). https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/alcohol%20impaired%20driving
- Drunk Driving Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.madd.org/statistics/
- Driving While Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/driving-while-impaired-alcohol-and-drugs
- MADD Rates Every State’s Drunk Driving Laws. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.madd.org/blog/press-release/madd-rates-every-states-drunk-driving-laws-2/
