Skip to main content

The real dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most dangerous things a person can do. The possibility of harm exists not just for the drunk driver but potentially several others who did not make such a dangerous choice.

In 2022, there were

13524

deaths in crashes involving alcohol impairment.

That is

37

deaths every day.

This is

32%

percent of traffic deaths involving drunk drivers

This is

32%

percent of traffic fatalities could be easily avoided.

DRUNK DRIVING FATALITIES 1982-2022

KEY STATISTICS

The worst states for drunk driving fatalities

Deaths Per 100K People
7.6
Deaths Per 100K People
Deaths Per 100K People
6.3
Deaths Per 100K People
Deaths Per 100K People
4
Deaths Per 100K People

Drunk driving deaths are up 31% since 2019

The worst age group for drunk driving fatalities is

21-40

For every one female drunk driver, there are four male drunk drivers.

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol begins to affect a person very quickly.
There is no safe amount that can be consumed before operating a vehicle.

At as low as 0.02% BAC, a person’s judgment and visual function are already becoming impaired.

At 0.05%, small muscle control (e.g., focusing your eyes) and coordination are impaired.

At 0.08%, judgment, reasoning, muscle control, concentration, and perception are significantly impaired

Drinking by Age

Graph of Drinking by Age

DRUNK DRIVING BY STATE

Enter the title for the section (e.g., “Drunk Driving by Type of Vehicle”).

Add alt text for the image

In 2020, 27% of traffic fatalities for motorcycles involved alcohol, which was the highest percentage.

Add alt text for the image

This percentage for passenger cars was 23%.

Add alt text for the image

And 19% of deaths for small trucks (including SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks) involved alcohol.

WHEN AND WHERE DO DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

July has the most drunk driving deaths, with

10%

May, June, August, September, and October all have

9%

January, March, April, November, and December all have

8%

ECONOMIC COST OF DRUNK DRIVING

It is estimated that drunk driving costs the United States nearly

$10 billion dollars

every year between injuries, property damage, lost productivity, and legal costs.

HOW TO PREVENT DRUNK DRIVING

The damage done by drunk driving is immense. The choice to drink and drive ruins lives, and the impact cannot be overstated. 2/3 of people will be impacted by drunk driving at some point in their lives. What steps can you take to prevent drunk driving?

Plan your trip if you intend to drink.

Find a designated driver, or be prepared to use a taxi or ride share service to make sure your good times stay good.

If you’re hosting a party.

If alcohol will be consumed, make sure you have a plan to get people home safely.

Don’t let people you know drive drunk.

If someone has been drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely.

Wear your seatbelt.

You can’t control what other people do, but you can take steps to protect yourself.

Taking these steps can save lives. You can absolutely make a difference and ensure that someone gets home safe.