How Often Do People Die From Drunk Driving?
Approximately one-third of all car crash fatalities involve a drunk driver. Drunk driving accidents are estimated to cost $44 billion each year. Those who are impaired can’t respond to emergencies on the road, can’t see road signs, and can’t control their speed. They also cause thousands of injuries.
(Looking for a Collision Lawyer? Contact us Today! Click here: Lawyer For Auto Accident)
In the United States, alcohol-impaired drivers have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 g/dL. This level is defined as drunk driving, and it is illegal to drive with a BAC above this level. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are over 1 million arrests for drunk driving each year. In 2016, the rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 people was down by almost 50 percent. The District of Columbia has the lowest rate in the nation, with only 0.77 fatalities per 100,000 people.
The most common time of day for alcohol-related traffic crashes to occur is at night. However, there is a trend of increasing alcohol-related crashes during the holiday season. In 2016, an estimated 25,000 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s period. The Fourth of July holiday period saw an estimated 812 people die in DUI crashes, while the Labor Day holiday period saw an estimated 142 Americans die in alcohol-related crashes.
In the District of Columbia, alcohol-related crashes cost the government nearly $10 million each year. In addition to the costs, drunk driving is a leading cause of traffic fatalities in the area. Approximately 9% of alcohol-related crash victims have previous drunk driving convictions.
The most common drivers involved in drunk driving crashes are college students and young adults. About one-third of alcohol-related crashes involve drivers between the ages of 25 and 34. In 2020, the largest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers were in crashes involving passenger cars and motorcycle riders. In addition, drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 accounted for 27% of alcohol-related fatal crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one million drivers were arrested for DUI in 2016. These arrests represented just one percent of the more than 111 million drunk driving episodes reported by U.S. adults in 2017. In 2013, there were approximately 120,000 emergency room visits involving young people who had been injured by alcohol.
In 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a total of 10,511 alcohol-related fatalities in the United States. Of these fatalities, 80% were men and 9% were women. In 2016, alcohol-related crashes accounted for one-third of all car crash fatalities. However, drunk driving statistics vary greatly by age, gender, and location.
Men are four times more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol than women. Men account for 80% of all arrests for drunk driving. Women account for 14% of all traffic fatalities and 9% of all drunk driving victims.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator (NHTSA), nearly one-third of all car crash fatalities involve a drunk driver. In 2016, alcohol-impaired drivers had a BAC of at least 0.08 g/dL. However, a BAC of 0.10 or more is seven times more likely to lead to a fatal crash than a sober driver.