How Many People Die From Drunk Driving Every Day?
Whether you’re a driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian, alcohol-related crashes are one of the leading causes of fatalities in the United States. Alcohol is involved in one in every three traffic fatalities. Alcohol-related car crashes cost the nation $44 billion annually.
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The number of people dying in alcohol-related crashes has decreased over the last three decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of all car crash fatalities involve drunk drivers.
Alcohol-related driving fatalities can vary based on the time of year. The holidays, especially the Fourth of July holiday period, are some of the deadliest days on the road. 285 people were killed because of drunk driving during the holiday season in 2018. The Labor Day holiday period also saw an increase in alcohol-related fatalities. North Dakota had the highest percentage of fatalities caused by alcohol-impaired drivers.
On New Year’s Day, the number of fatalities jumped by 54 people. Compared to the rest of the month, the number of alcohol-related deaths increased by more than a third. Alcohol-impaired drivers caused 40 percent of fatal car accidents during the holiday period.
New Year’s Day was also the deadliest day for alcohol-related crashes in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 8,648 alcohol-related fatalities in 2018. The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes were 25- to 34-year-olds. There were also 214 children 14 and under killed in crashes involving drunk drivers.
Alcohol-related fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday period were higher in Texas, Minnesota, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota. However, California has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths among teenagers. The average blood alcohol concentration for drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 is 0.08 grams per deciliter, which is the legal limit in almost every state.
While there is a lot of discussion about the danger of drinking and driving, the fact is that most drivers will cross paths with a drunk driver at some point in their lifetime. There are 310 funerals each week for people who were killed in drunk driving crashes. There are also thousands of people injured every day from drunk driving crashes. The cost of cleaning up the wrecks is significant. Moreover, one drink per minute increases the risk of a fatal crash by almost sevenfold.
The number of drunk drivers on the road has decreased since the 1980s, but it’s still a serious problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 11,654 drunk driving deaths in 2020. This figure is expected to rise to 13,548 in 2021. While this number is still quite high, it’s important to keep in mind that many things can be done to reduce the number of drunk driving deaths in the United States.
One of the best ways to do this is by not getting behind the wheel when you’re drunk. If you need to avoid a drunk driver, consider using rideshare services or calling a friend.