What State Has the Most Drunk Driving Accidents?
It may surprise you to learn that Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas are among the states with the highest rate of drunk driving accidents. These statistics are based on the number of alcohol-related fatalities in each state. Keeping this in mind, you should always practice safe driving habits when driving, no matter where you live.
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Mississippi has the drunkest driving accidents
The statistics on drunk driving accidents in Mississippi are shocking. Most of these accidents result in fatalities. The number of fatalities is significantly higher in men than in women. Nationally, there are 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people caused by drunk driving, but the figures are even higher in Mississippi. In Mississippi, the percentage of fatal drunk driving crashes is 9.8 per 100,000 people. These statistics highlight the dangerous nature of drunk driving, and the importance of reporting a suspected drunk driver.
Although the statistics on Mississippi’s drunk driving accident rate are alarming, there is good news for those living in the state. According to a CDC report, one in every 190 miles driven involved a drunk driver or pedestrian. In Mississippi, there were 6,377 accidents involving drunk drivers and pedestrians in 2000. According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 2970 alcohol-related crashes in Mississippi in 2012. While these numbers still are far above national averages, they are a great sign for Mississippi drivers.
Florida has the drunkest driving accidents
According to Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, more than 25% of traffic accidents in Florida are alcohol-related, and there are many more that are unreported. As a result, more than one in every four fatal traffic accidents is caused by someone driving under the influence.
While Florida as a whole ranks 16th for the number of drunk driving fatalities, certain areas are more dangerous than others. For instance, residents of Hamilton County, with a population of 14,799, are 21 times more likely to be killed by a drunk driver than residents of Miami-Dade County, which has a population of around 75,000.
Texas has the drunkest driving accidents
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, Texas has the highest percentage of drunk driving accidents in the country. The state ranks first due to its unusually large population, but many other factors contribute to the high number of drunk driving accidents. Alcohol-related crashes account for over one-third of all traffic deaths in Texas.
In 2015, nearly 25,500 alcohol-related car crashes occurred on Texas roads. This equated to almost 1,200 fatalities and 15,687 injuries. About 70 percent of the drivers involved in the accidents were repeat offenders, with blood alcohol concentrations over twice the legal limit. Additionally, in 2016, nearly 46 percent of the drunk drivers in Texas were under age 21. The majority of Texas drunk driving accidents occur between the hours of 6:00 PM and 4 AM. The number of fatal accidents is highest on Friday and Saturday nights.
Minnesota has the drunkest driving accidents
Minnesota has some of the worst drunk driving accidents in the country. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, more than 79,000 crashes involved alcohol from 2012 to 2014, resulting in 2787 injuries and 381 fatalities. Among those crashes, more than 26,000 involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. The state has a high rate of drunk driving arrests, and almost 1 in 7 drivers has a DWI conviction on their record.
Despite Minnesota’s strict drunk driving laws, drunk drivers are still getting behind the wheel of a car every day. One tragic incident in Rochester, Minnesota, involved a driver who had not had a license since 1979 and whose blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The accident involved three vehicles, with the drunk driver striking one vehicle head-on. The driver is now facing charges of criminal vehicle operation and vehicular homicide.