We researched the latest data from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to compile some of the most useful drunk driving accident statistics available.
Drunk Driving Accident Fatality Statistics
In 2016, motor-vehicle collisions involving drivers who had a BAC of at least 0.08 resulted in 10,497 traffic fatalities. These deaths represented 28 percent of all traffic deaths for that year.
Nearly 29 people throughout the U.S. died every single day in drunk driving accidents in 2016. This is the equivalent of one drunk driving death every 50 minutes.
In 2016, 67 percent of the drunk driving deaths (7,052) resulted from wrecks in which at least one of the motorists involved had a BAC of at least 0.15.
Police arrested more than a million motorists for driving while impaired by narcotics or alcohol in 2016.
In 2015, alcohol impairment played a role in 9,350 motor-vehicle collisions that resulted in fatalities.
In 2014, alcohol impairment played a role in 9,049 motor-vehicle collisions that resulted in fatalities.
In 2016, 17 percent of the traffic deaths among passengers who were 14 years old or younger occurred in drunk driving accidents.
The number of traffic fatalities resulting from wrecks involving impaired motorists per population has been halved since the 1980s. The greatest decline has occurred proportionally among people between the ages of 16 and 20 years old.
From 1982 to 2001, a decrease in drinking and driving saved more than 150,000 people. This is more than the total number of lives saved by increasing safety belt usage, airbag prevalence, and helmet usage combined.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics by Age
In 2016, impaired motorists—those with a BAC of at least 0.08—between the ages of 25 and 34 were responsible for the most fatal drunk driving wrecks (27 percent). Impaired motorists between 21 and 24 years old were responsible for 26 percent of the fatal drunk driving wrecks that year, while impaired motorists between 35 and 44 years old were responsible for 22 percent.
During the past 30 years, several studies funded by the NIH have determined that increasing the legal minimum drinking age to 21 has reduced both alcohol consumption and drunk driving-related accidents among those younger than 21. It has been estimated by the Department of Transportation that these laws, which apply in all 50 states, save 1,000 lives annually.
Several states implemented a zero tolerance policy for motorists younger than 21 in the 1980s. The NIH funded studies that determined the effectiveness of a zero tolerance law, which resulted in the passage of one in every state by the 1990s.
In 1982, 5,244 traffic fatalities among those between 16 and 20 years of age in the United States were contributed to collisions involving impaired motorists. By 2008, that number had decreased to 1,987, largely because of zero tolerance policies and a higher legal minimum drinking age.
Drunk Driving Prevalence by Vehicle Type
In 2016, fatal motorcycle accidents involved the highest percentage of drivers who had a BAC of at least 0.08 (25 percent). Fatal accidents involving passenger vehicles were the next highest, at 21 percent. Light trucks followed at 20 percent, while just 2 percent of the fatal collisions involving tractor-trailers were caused by impaired motorists.
Drunk Driving Accident Risk Factors
Scientists at NIH determined that more than 70 percent of those who were involved in drunk driving-related wrecks met the criteria for alcohol dependence; however, most had never been treated or arrested.
Those who are most likely to get in a fatal drunk driving accident include men, especially those between 22 and 45 years old, motorists with prior DUI convictions, and motorists who do not wear a safety belt.
Drunk Driving Holiday Statistics
Up to three times as many people die in drunk driving crashes around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays than during comparable times over the course of the year.
Approximately 40 percent of the traffic deaths that occur during the winter holiday season involve an impaired motorist. During the rest of December, approximately 28 percent of traffic deaths involve an impaired motorist.
Drunk Driving Injury Statistics
Collisions in which alcohol plays a role are more likely to end in injuries and fatalities than those in which impairment is not a contributing factor.
Male/Female Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
In 2010, male motorists were responsible for 81 percent of all drinking and driving episodes. During that year, men between 21 and 34 years old made up just 11 percent of the adult population in the United States, but they were responsible for 32 percent of all drinking and driving episodes.
Effectiveness of Ignition Interlock Devices
Installing ignition interlock devices reduces re-arrest rates for driving while impaired by about 66 percent.
Drunk Driving Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Among the motorcyclists who died in collisions in 2016, 1 out of 4 had a BAC of at least 0.08.
In 2016, 38 percent of impaired motorcyclists—those with a BAC of at least 0.08—who died in a collision were between the ages of 35 and 39.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics by State
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,190 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Alabama.
Between 2003 and 2012, 222 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Alaska.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,912 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Arizona.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,769 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Arkansas.
Between 2003 and 2012, 10,327 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in California.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,702 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Colorado.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,039 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Connecticut.
Between 2003 and 2012, 427 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Delaware.
Between 2003 and 2012, 8,476 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Florida.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,699 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Georgia.
Between 2003 and 2012, 484 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Hawaii.
Between 2003 and 2012, 712 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Idaho.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,866 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Illinois.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,210 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Indiana.
Between 2003 and 2012, 968 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Iowa.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,214 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Kansas.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,041 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Kentucky.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,046 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Louisiana.
Between 2003 and 2012, 491 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Maine.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,716 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Maryland.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,370 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Massachusetts.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,912 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Michigan.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,442 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Minnesota.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,560 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Mississippi.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,314 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Missouri.
Between 2003 and 2012, 932 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Montana.
Between 2003 and 2012, 682 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Nebraska.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,025 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Nevada.
Between 2003 and 2012, 399 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New Hampshire.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,816 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New Jersey.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,254 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New Mexico.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,752 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New York.
Between 2003 and 2012, 4,102 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in North Carolina.
Between 2003 and 2012, 502 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in North Dakota.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,637 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Ohio.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,205 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Oklahoma.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,232 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Oregon.
Between 2003 and 2012, 4,663 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Pennsylvania.
Between 2003 and 2012, 308 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Rhode Island.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,870 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in South Carolina.
Between 2003 and 2012, 537 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in South Dakota.
Between 2003 and 2012, 3,423 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Tennessee.
Between 2003 and 2012, 13,138 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Texas.
Between 2003 and 2012, 469 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Utah.
Between 2003 and 2012, 212 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Vermont.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,613 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Virginia.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,921 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Washington.
Between 2003 and 2012, 124 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in the Washington, D.C.
Between 2003 and 2012, 1,092 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in West Virginia.
Between 2003 and 2012, 2,577 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Wisconsin.
Between 2003 and 2012, 506 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Wyoming.
