Drunk Driving Statistics and How to Avoid (Infographic)

In 2020, over 11,500 people died in drunk driving accidents, all 100% preventable.

The dangers and consequences of drinking and driving affect all of us today. Often it is the innocent third parties that suffer most when it comes to alcohol-related crashes. 

Although statistically, we have seen a decrease in drunk driving crashes over the past ten years, someone is still injured in such an accident every 120 seconds in the U.S. 

Drunk Driving Statistics: Key Elements

• In the United States, one person dies due to a drunk-driving car crash every 52 minutes. That is one person almost every hour whose death can be prevented by drunk driving car crashes.
• The annual cost of alcohol-related incidents totals over 44 billion. With each accident, insurance rates, taxes, and medical costs increase to cover these costs.
• 1 of every 8 nighttime weekend drivers has marijuana in their system.
•  In 2020, 11,654 died from drunk driving car accidents. This amounts to one-third of all fatal accidents in the US.
• The highest percentage of drunk drivers are between the ages of 21 and 24 and 25 to 36.
• Car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths. Sadly, about a quarter of those crashes involve a 15-20-year-old (underage drinking) who had been driving under the influence of alcohol.  

What is Drunk Driving?

Drunk driving in the United States can be defined as:

• Any person, over the age of 21, (the legal drinking age in the US) driving a vehicle whose Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher.

• Any person, under the age of 21, driving a vehicle who has even a small trace of alcohol in their system is still considered a drunk driver. Teenagers cannot legally purchase alcohol until 21 years of age.

What Are The Dangers Of Drunk Driving? 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drinking alcohol will have the following effect on your driving abilities: 

• BAC of 0.2%: Feeling relaxed, judgment begins to waver, and loss of ability to do more than one task at a time.

• BAC of 0.5%: Loss of small muscle function, finding it harder to focus the eyes. Reduced response to an emergency driving situation, and difficulty steering.

• BAC of 0.8%: Slower reaction times, blurred vision as well as loss of balance, and low concentration levels.

• BAC of 0.10%: Slurred speech, slowed thinking, reduced ability to drive straight or brake when appropriate.

• BAC of 0.15%: Little control of the vehicle and inability to focus on the task of driving.

Update: Research shows that consuming just 1 drink can slow down your reaction time in an emergency situation and hinder you from making the right decisions. When over the limit, it is impossible to think clearly and still be in control of your vehicle. 

Annual Data of How Many Drunk Driving Deaths

According to the 2020 NHTSA Alcohol-Impaired Driving Report, of the 11,654 people who died that year in car crashes, 7,225 of them were alcohol-impaired drivers, and 4,429 were passengers who were riding with them, passengers in other vehicles, or nonoccupants such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Source: NHTSA: Alcohol-impaired driving

Alcohol-Related Drunk Driving Statistics

In 2019, the highest percentage of drunk drivers were 21-24 years old (27%) They were followed closely by the 25-34-year-olds, at 25%.

According to NHTSA, for every 4 intoxicated male drivers, there was 1 intoxicated female involved in a fatal crash. The exact numbers are 7,580 male and 1,840 female drivers. 

Drugged Driving Statistics

In 2019, 13.6 million Americans drove under the influence of drugs, the majority under the influence of Marijuana. Illegal drugs are responsible for 16% of all vehicle crashes in the US.  

As per the data collected by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) 56% of car drivers who are involved in road accidents that leads to serious injury or death are found to be under the influence of at least one drug.

Laws Related To Intoxicated Drivers

The federal limit to legally drive in the US is 0.08%, except in Utah, which has a BAC of 0.05% (7). Each US state has different laws and penalties for driving under the influence.

For example, a first-time offender in New York City with a BAC of between 0.8-0.18 could have their license revoked for at least 6 months, face up to 1 year in prison and pay a fine of between $500 – $1000. 

A first-time offender in the state of Texas will have his license suspended for 3 months, face up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $2000, or both. 

DUI during Winter Season: Statistics

The holiday season has historically been a time for cheerful laughter, family gatherings, and the giving spirit. 

The joyous festivities and contagious laughter are often accompanied by regretful drunk driving and the screeching of tires. Here is some insight into the spike in car accidents during the winter season:

• Winter is the season you are least likely to be involved in a fatal drunk driving accident, with only 21.34% of accidents occurring between December and February.

• New Year’s Day is by far the most dangerous day of the year to be on the road. Your chances of being involved in a DUI-related accident on this holiday is about 129% higher than average, while the risk is about 77% higher on Thanksgiving day.

Impacts of Drunk Driving On Car Insurance

According to NerdWallet’s 2023 rate analysis, the national average for car insurance is $1,630 yearly (full coverage). If you have one DUI charge against you, this rate increases to an average of  $3,139. That’s right, one DUI incident and you’ll find your premiums skyrocket to double the cost! What’s more, this higher premium stays with you for about 3-5 years. 

Distracted Driving vs Drunk Driving Statistics

The U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx once made this sobering statement:

“Behind every distracted driving death is a story of loss. In the blink of an eye, lives can be transformed forever. Scrolling through song lists on a cell phone or texting while driving is not just irresponsible, it can have tragic consequences.”

Yes, while there is a huge emphasis on the effects of drunk driving, the consequences of distracted driving are often overlooked.

Here are just a few statistics regarding distracted driving from a recent study:

• 52.5% of people admitted that they have eaten.
• 23.6% said that they send the occasional text message.
• 11.7% have taken photos
• 6.5% of drivers have applied makeup 
• Shockingly, only 3.4% of these drivers interviewed admitted to drinking while under the influence of alcohol. That means that the dangers associated with being distracted by one’s cell phone or mascara are significantly more common than drunk driving.

See Also: Annual Texting And Driving Statistics (Accidents & Deaths)

Tips To Prevent Drunk Driving

• Be prepared. If you plan to go for a few drinks after work, designate a driver who will stay sober and ensure everyone gets home safely.

• Know your limits and stick to them.

• Make good use of taxis or ride-share services like Uber or Lyft. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, ride-sharing has decreased alcohol-related traffic fatalities by 6.1%.

• Do not consume alcohol on an empty stomach, and make sure you drink plenty of water.

• Do not allow friends and family to drive under the influence. They may be angry with you when you take their keys away, but they will thank you in the morning.

FAQs

Final Considerations

These statistics prove that drunk driving is a reckless and dangerous act. These are more than just statistics, though; each number represents a precious human life, someone’s parent, sibling, or child.

Be committed to not driving under the influence, as alcohol-impaired driving can be devastating to all involved. 

With a little bit of planning and determination, you can avoid it altogether, thereby helping to save thousands of lives.

References

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving#age-5056
https://www.stopdruggeddriving.org/problem#rates
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56125
https://www.findlaw.com/dui/laws-resources/comparing-state-dui-laws.html#:~:text=The%20federal%20limit%20to%20legally,(BAC)%20of%200.08%25.
https://www.edgarsnyder.com/drunk-driving/driving-alcohol-laws/
https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/resources/most-dangerous-dui-days/
https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/safety-partners-work-end-distracted-driving
https://www.valuepenguin.com/drinking-habits-survey
https://www.madd.org/stats/50-to-75-percent-of-convicted-drunk-drivers-continue-to-drive-on-a-suspended-license