2024 Drunk Driving Statistics

Intoxicated drivers cost the U.S. economy billions each year. Although driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in every U.S. state and offenders face major consequences, one person dies every 39 minutes from drunk driving in America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Alcohol-related traffic fatalities jumped in 2020 and peaked at more than 13,600 deaths in 2021. Though fewer Americans were on the road, drivers became more reckless during the pandemic, and NHTSA analysis shows impaired driving was a major factor.^[1]

From impaired driving rates and drunk driving’s effect on the economy to how states penalize offenders, this article includes sourced, well-documented data about drunk driving in the U.S.

What is drunk driving?

Drunk driving is what it sounds like — driving while drunk. You may see the charge referred to as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while impaired, driving while intoxicated, or another variation.

In the U.S., having a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than or equal to 0.08% means a driver is “drunk,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.^[2] Some states have stricter laws with lower BAC limits.

Driving drunk has significant risks and consequences — namely the high percentage of fatal crashes. Intoxicated drivers can face license suspension or loss, increased insurance premiums, insurance policy cancellation or non-renewal, fines and legal fees, civil lawsuits, and even jail time.

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National drunk driving statistics

In 2022, the year for which the most recent national data is available, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving deaths, according to the NHTSA, which collects data on drunk driving in the U.S.^[3]

Generally, laws consider any fatal accident involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08% or greater to be an alcohol-impaired driving crash. Having a BAC below the legal limit can also impair driving: In 2022, 2,337 people died in alcohol-related crashes in which a driver’s BAC was 0.01%–0.07%, according to the NHTSA.^[3]

Drunk driving fatalities by year

Here’s a look at alcohol-related driving fatalities by year in the U.S. for a 10-year period. While drunk driving deaths reached their lowest point in 2014, numbers began to increase the very next year and have been high since the pandemic.

Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2021 Data and Traffic Safety Facts 2022 Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The most recent available NHTSA data is from 2022.

From 2012–2022, the average annual number of drunk driving fatalities was around 11,000, brought up by higher numbers in recent years. Though Americans drove less during the pandemic, 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020, the most since 2007, according to the NHTSA.^[1] About 30% were alcohol-related fatalities. An NHTSA analysis showed the main contributing behaviors were impaired driving, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt.

Fatalities were even higher in 2021 and 2022, seemingly for similar reasons. Traffic fatalities from speeding reached a 14-year high in 2021. The NHTSA found drivers in speeding-related crashes were driving drunk more frequently than drivers not speeding, and more than half were not wearing seat belts.^[4]

Drunk driving economic impact

Drunk driving cost the economy $58 billion in 2019, according to the NHTSA.^[5] That includes billions of dollars for healthcare, legal fees, property damage, and lost household and market productivity. Costs of drunk driving crashes tend to exceed other types of crashes, mostly based on severity.

When you factor in lost quality of life, the number is much higher. The NHTSA calculates $296 billion in total societal harm from alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes.^[5]

Insurify analyzed NHTSA data on the average per-person cost of alcohol-related crashes. This graphic estimates the economic cost of alcohol-related injuries and fatalities in 2019, the year for which the most recent data is available.

Drunk driving statistics by state

The states with the highest number of traffic fatalities from impaired driving crashes in 2022 were, understandably, the most populous: California, Texas, and Florida, according to the NHTSA.^[6] South Carolina was the worst state for drunk driving in 2022, with an alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate of 0.80 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Utah had the lowest rate, at 0.21.

Statistics can differ from state to state, as some have more severe laws to discourage drunk driving or more robust prevention and education programs. States also test drivers’ BAC at different rates. Of drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022, Mississippi tested 8% with known BAC results, while Alaska tested 77%, according to the NHTSA.^[6]

Drunk driving fatalities by state

These are the states with the most and least alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per the most recent NHTSA data from 2022.

Source: Traffic Fatalities, by State and Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 2022; State Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Estimates: 2022 Data; NHTSA.

Drunk driving state economic impact

The federal government hasn’t released a state-by-state drunk driving economic cost analysis. Unfortunately, that means you’ll have to comb through state budgets to understand what drunk driving costs state economies. As the federal data shows, it can also be difficult to quantify.

For example, California allocated $176 million to its Department of Motor Vehicles’ Driver Safety program in last year’s budget, but drunk drivers aren’t the only type of unsafe driver.^[7] In Florida’s 2023-2024 budget, the only clear allocation to drunk driving was $3.6 million for the Department of Law Enforcement to transition to new alcohol-testing instruments.^[8]

South Carolina — which has the highest rate of drunk drivers — has an entire department of alcohol and other drug abuse services, which received a $98.6 million allocation last year. The state allocated another $2.2 million to prosecuting DUIs and public defense for DUI defendants. By comparison, Utah allocated $1.8 million to fund 18 alcohol and drug enforcement officers and two social workers last year.^[9]

Though these numbers provide some idea of how drunk driving affects different state economies, they don’t represent the total economic impact, especially given the federal data.

States with the most drunk drivers

States enforce drunk driving differently based on quantitative and qualitative factors, like how many officers states have to patrol roadways and whether officers decide to breathalyze drivers they pull over. Analyzing DUI arrest numbers, how many precincts reported data, and the number of licensed drivers in each state, we estimated which states have the highest DUI arrest rates.

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2022 arrest statistics; U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Highway Statistics 2019.

How long a DUI stays on your record varies by state, so the number of drivers with a DUI on their records may change from year to year. These are the top 10 states with the highest percentage of drivers with DUIs on their records, according to historical Insurify data.

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Drunk driving statistics by age and gender

Age and gender are statistically significant when it comes to drunk driving rates. Though teen drivers are typically riskier given their lack of experience, DUI rates are highest among drivers in their 20s and 30s. Rates drop steadily from there, with low DUI rates among seniors.

Males are considered riskier drivers in general, and face higher insurance rates because of it, according to Insurify data. This holds for drunk driving as well, with a higher DUI rate among male drivers.

Drunk driving data by age

Drunk driving rates spike for drivers in their 20s and 30s, according to Insurify data. The percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes is also highest for drivers 21–34, according to 2022 NHTSA data.^[3] Teen drivers and drivers 70 and older have the lowest drunk driving rates, per Insurify and NHTSA data.

Drunk driving statistics by gender

Drunk driving rates are persistently higher for males than females. The percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes is also higher for men than for women, according to NHTSA data.

Though 22 states have passed legislation permitting a third gender option on driver’s licenses, there doesn’t yet appear to be much state or federal data reporting the driving habits of nonbinary drivers.^[10]

Legal consequences of drunk driving

The legal consequences of driving drunk vary by state but typically all come down to a mix of similar penalties. Some states charge DUIs as a misdemeanor, some as a civil infraction, and some as a felony minimum sentence. Judicial discretion also varies.

Drivers can face imprisonment, fines and legal costs, license suspension and revocation, treatment programs, and higher insurance premiums. Many states also impose periods requiring the convicted driver to use an ignition interlock device (IID): a small breathalyzer connected to the car’s ignition installed to prevent intoxicated driving.

Legal definition of drunk driving by state

BAC limits legally define drunk driving. An elevated blood alcohol concentration reduces your reaction time and affects hearing, balance, and vision. The influence of alcohol can also show up as euphoria, fatigue, and impaired judgment.

The federal BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers older than 21 (the legal drinking age in every state). But states can set a stricter limit. Utah is the only state to set a BAC limit of 0.05%, but other states have penalties that can take effect even with a BAC below 0.08%.^[11]

The federal BAC limit for drivers younger than 21 is 0.02%, which many states affirm in state code to further penalize underage drinking. Most states also have increased penalties for testing with a BAC of 0.15% or above.

These are the BAC limits and DUI penalties in the top 10 states with the highest percentage of drivers with DUIs on their records, according to Insurify data.

States that require an SR-22 or FR-44 for drunk driving

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility proving to the state you have the minimum required liability insurance coverage. If the court revokes or suspends your license for a period following a DUI, most states will require this form to reinstate your driving privileges.

Though not technically a type of insurance, you may see that required coverage called SR-22 insurance when a driver has to file that form before they can start driving again. Typically, drivers have to carry this policy for three years after license reinstatement, but the period varies by state and offense.

An FR-44 also shows the state you’ve purchased auto insurance — but it often comes with stricter requirements. Florida and Virginia are the only states that use it, and they typically require it only for drivers with severe offenses. The FR-44 form usually accompanies a higher general liability coverage requirement for high-risk drivers.

How drunk driving affects car insurance rates

Your driving record affects your car insurance premiums significantly. If you have a history of risky driving, insurers will quote you higher rates to account for that risk.

Rates vary significantly across states, insurers, and other factors, so if you’re shopping for car insurance and have a DUI, it’s smart to compare quotes.

Clean record vs. DUI rates by insurer

Average insurance rates vary widely among insurers, and so do rates for drivers with DUIs.

For example, State Farm’s average full-coverage rate for drivers with a clean record is $167 monthly, and about $276 for a driver with a DUI, according to Insurify data. American Family’s is a bit higher, at a $121 monthly average for safe drivers and $200 for a driver with a DUI.

These are the average full-coverage rates for drivers with a clean record and drivers with a DUI for the 10 largest insurers in the U.S.

Clean record vs. DUI rates by state

Location affects insurance rates significantly — all the way down to your ZIP code in many states. How much a DUI will raise your premiums also varies by state. In Massachusetts, a DUI raises rates by 33% on average, while in South Carolina drivers could see an 87% increase, according to Insurify data.

These are the average full-coverage car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record and drivers with a DUI by state.

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Clean record vs. DUI rates by age group

Insurers calculate premiums based on a driver’s estimated risk, and age is a risk factor. Teenagers pay 73% above average for car insurance, while drivers in their 50s pay about 23% less, according to Insurify data. DUIs will affect your rates at any age, but driving drunk can have significant consequences for underage drivers.

These are the average full-coverage car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record and drivers with a DUI by age group.

Clean record vs. DUI rates by gender

In many states, gender also affects car insurance rates, and crash data shows why. Men are statistically higher-risk drivers than women. For example, male drivers are far more likely to be involved in speeding-related fatal crashes and alcohol-impaired fatal crashes, according to NHTSA data.

These are the average full-coverage rates for drivers with a clean record and drivers with a DUI by gender, according to Insurify data. (We don’t yet have enough data to share on insurance rates for nonbinary drivers.)

How to prevent drunk driving

The NHTSA says being a responsible driver is simple: If you’re drinking, don’t drive. Planning and discussing with friends or hosts before a gathering can help everyone get home safely.

Here are a few strategies to prevent drunk driving and keep yourself, and everyone else, safe.

• Plan a ride home before the party. This could be downloading a ride-share app, choosing a non-drinking friend to drive home, or looking up public transportation schedules.

• Choose a designated driver. Choose someone you trust to remain sober to drive everyone home and keep each other accountable.

• Don’t let impaired friends get behind the wheel. If you know a friend’s had too many alcoholic beverages, take their car keys and help them find a sober ride. It could save their life.

• Use ride-share services. Research what’s available in your area before the party, and download and set up the right apps. Make it easy to get a safe ride at the end of the night.

• Take public transportation, if it’s safe and available. Look up bus or train schedules and times, and set alarms if you need to leave at a certain time.

• Call a friend. If you don’t have many options, try calling someone you trust to come get you. It may inconvenience them, but it could save a life.

• If you’re hosting, ensure your guests leave with a sober driver. Watch out for your guests, and see them into ride-share vehicles or off to the train.

• If you’re the designated driver, ensure you and your passengers wear a seat belt. Seat belts help prevent injuries and are among the best defenses against impaired drivers.

• Call law enforcement if you see an impaired driver on the road. Officers can check it out and help prevent harm to the driver and anyone else.

• Promote public awareness campaigns. Share information on social media or among your community to remind people to plan, drive safely, and prevent harm to themselves and others.

Drunk driving statistics FAQs