Lena Savoie
Alcohol-related crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for about 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the country. This figure rose to 13,524 in 2022, and more than 13,000 in 2023 and 2024. Alcohol-related crashes have been on a general decline since 1991, but the rate of alcohol-related emergency department visits increased by 47% between 2006 and 2014, translating to an average annual increase of 210,000 visits. Overall, excessive alcohol use leads to about 178,000 deaths annually in the United States, with men making up the bulk of these deaths.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of alcohol-related deaths in the US each year | 178,000 |
| Number of drunk driving deaths in the US each year | 11,654-13,617 |
| Number of alcohol-related emergency department visits in 2020 | 7.1% of all visits |
| Percentage of alcohol-related deaths caused by chronic conditions | 66% |
| Percentage of alcohol-related deaths caused by binge drinking or drinking too much on one occasion | 33% |
| Number of people under 21 who died due to drunk driving | 980 |
| Number of children (14 and younger) killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2020 | 229 |
| Number of children (14 and younger) killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2023 | 25% of all child traffic fatalities |
| Number of drunk drivers with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher who were involved in fatal crashes and had prior convictions for impaired driving | 6% |
| Number of drunk drivers with BACs below .08 g/dL who were involved in fatal crashes and had prior convictions for impaired driving | 1% |
| Percentage of male drunk drivers | 80% |
| Number of people operating a motorcycle who were killed in traffic crashes in 2023 | 6,335 |
| Number of motorcycle operators who were drunk (BAC of .08 g/dL or higher) | 1,668 (26%) |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2023, there were 12,429 alcohol-related driving deaths
- Drunk driving fatalities have been declining since 1991
- Alcohol-related crashes claimed 32% of all traffic deaths in 2022
- Alcohol-related deaths increased among all age groups from 2016-2017 to 2020-2021
- About 30% of all US traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers
In 2023, there were 12,429 alcohol-related driving deaths
Alcohol-impaired driving is a leading cause of traffic-related deaths in the United States. In 2023, there were 12,429 alcohol-related driving deaths, accounting for about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities in the country. This averages out to about 34 people dying each day in drunk-driving crashes, or one person every 42 minutes. These deaths are preventable.
While drunk driving fatalities have been on a downward trend since 1991, with a record low of 9,878 in 2011, there has been a 33% increase in alcohol-related driving deaths since 2019. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 13,524 drunk driving fatalities, accounting for 32% of overall driving deaths. This is a slight increase from 31% in 2021.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-impaired driving. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in crashes had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .01 g/dL or higher. Among children aged 14 and younger killed in motor vehicle crashes, 25% were in drunk-driving crashes, with over half of those children in the vehicle with the drunk driver.
Men are more likely to be involved in drunk driving crashes, with four male drunk drivers for every female drunk driver. In addition, drivers with a BAC of .08 g/dL are approximately four times more likely to crash than sober drivers, and this risk increases exponentially as BAC levels rise. Hardcore drunk drivers, those with a BAC of .15 or higher, account for nearly 70% of drunk driving fatalities.
The financial impact of drunk driving is also significant. Impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $68.9 billion annually, based on 2019 numbers. This includes medical costs and the value of lives lost.
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Drunk driving fatalities have been declining since 1991
Drunk driving is a dangerous crime that has been causing thousands of preventable deaths in the United States every year. Despite this, drunk driving fatalities have been on a decline since 1991.
According to Responsibility.org, drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 population have decreased by 35% nationally between 1991 and 2022. This decline is the result of various factors, including the tough enforcement of drunk-driving laws and the implementation of minimum drinking age laws. The minimum legal drinking age of 21 has been adopted by all states to reduce alcohol-related fatal crashes among youth. NHTSA estimates that these laws have saved 31,959 lives from 1975 to 2017.
While drunk driving fatalities have shown a downward trend, the rate of drunk driving is steadily increasing after years of decline. Drunk driving fatalities were at their lowest in 2011 and 2014 but have been on the rise nationally since 2019. In 2023, there were 12,429 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States. This equates to about 34 people dying every day, or one person every 42 minutes.
Young adults between the ages of 21 and 24 have the highest rates of drunk driving fatalities. Within this age group, men are more likely to drive drunk than women. NHTSA data from 2022 reveals that drivers between 21 and 24 years old account for 29% of all fatal alcohol-impaired crashes, followed by 25 to 34-year-olds at 28%. Repeat offenders who drink and drive remain a significant problem, with a higher likelihood of prior convictions for driving while impaired.
To address the issue of drunk driving, public awareness campaigns and the incorporation of drunk and impaired driving prevention technology in new vehicles are being advocated. Additionally, educating young people about the consequences of drinking and driving, as well as offering alternatives to drinking and driving, are crucial steps toward preventing drunk driving fatalities.
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Alcohol-related crashes claimed 32% of all traffic deaths in 2022
Alcohol-impaired driving is a leading cause of traffic-related deaths in the United States. In 2022, alcohol-related crashes claimed 32% of all traffic deaths, or 13,524 lives. This figure represents a slight increase from 2021, when alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 31% of overall driving fatalities.
Drunk driving deaths have been on a worrying upward trajectory, rising by 33% since 2019. Before this, annual alcohol-related traffic fatalities had remained relatively stable for a decade, hovering around 10,000 deaths per year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drunk driving claimed the lives of 12,429 people in 2023. This equates to about 34 people dying each day in drunk-driving crashes, or one person every 42 minutes.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related crashes. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in car crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.01 g/dL or higher. Among children aged 14 and younger killed in motor vehicle crashes, 25% were in drunk-driving incidents, with more than half of those deaths occurring when the child was in the vehicle driven by the drunk driver.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the nation's largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, has called for urgent action to address this persistent public health crisis. MADD advocates for all new vehicles to be equipped with drunk and impaired driving prevention technology, which could save over 10,000 lives annually.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, drunk driving crashes impose a substantial financial burden on the United States. Based on 2019 figures, impaired-driving crashes cost the country $68.9 billion annually. The annual estimated cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers totalled a staggering $123.3 billion in 2020.
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Alcohol-related deaths increased among all age groups from 2016-2017 to 2020-2021
Alcohol-related deaths in the US have been on an upward trajectory over the past two decades. Between 2016–2017 and 2020–2021, alcohol-related deaths increased across all age groups.
During 2020–2021, excessive alcohol use led to about 178,000 deaths in the US, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death. This figure represents an increase from the 2016–2017 estimate of 138,000 deaths per year. The rise in alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic has been attributed to stressors such as financial insecurity and social isolation.
Alcohol-related deaths can result from chronic conditions that develop over time or binge drinking on a single occasion. Chronic conditions, such as liver disease, heart disease, and various cancers, account for about two-thirds of alcohol-related deaths. Liver disease deaths have doubled over the past two decades, with a notable increase during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Alcohol-linked cancers have also doubled, with liver cancer, colon cancer, and esophageal cancer seeing significant increases.
Binge drinking or excessive consumption on one occasion accounts for about one-third of alcohol-related deaths. This includes motor vehicle crashes, alcohol-involved drug overdoses, alcohol poisonings, and suicides. Approximately 28 to 30 people lose their lives daily in drunk driving accidents, with 28% of overall driving fatalities linked to alcohol.
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About 30% of all US traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers
Alcohol-impaired driving is a leading cause of traffic-related deaths in the United States, with about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities involving drunk drivers. This equates to around 34 people dying each day in drunk-driving crashes, or one person every 42 minutes. In 2023, this translated to 12,429 people killed in alcohol-related driving crashes, a number that increased to over 13,000 in 2024.
Drunk driving fatalities have been on a general decline since 1991, with the lowest point in 2019 since record-keeping began in 1982. Despite this, drunk driving continues to be a deadly issue, with repeat offenders posing a significant problem. Drivers with a BAC of 0.08 g/dL or higher involved in fatal crashes were six times more likely to have prior convictions for impaired driving than drivers who had not been drinking.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to drunk driving crashes. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in crashes had a BAC of 0.01 g/dL or higher. Among children aged 14 and younger killed in motor vehicle crashes, 25% were in drunk-driving-related incidents, with over half of those killed being in the vehicle driven by the drunk driver.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the nation's largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, has helped save over 400,000 lives and reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50%. They advocate for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders, and advanced vehicle technology to prevent drunk driving.
The financial impact of drunk driving is also significant, with impaired-driving crashes costing the United States $68.9 billion annually in 2019. Additionally, the annual estimated cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers totalled about $123.3 billion in 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 12,429 alcohol-impaired driving deaths in 2023. This increased to 13,524 in 2022, accounting for 32% of all driving fatalities.
Excessive alcohol use causes around 178,000 deaths per year. This includes 120,000 male deaths and 59,000 female deaths.
In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15-20 who were killed in crashes had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .01 g/dL or higher. 980 people who died due to drunk driving were under the age of 21.
About two-thirds of alcohol-related deaths are caused by chronic conditions that develop from drinking alcohol over time. This includes liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and alcohol use disorder. The other third of alcohol-related deaths are caused by binge drinking, which can lead to motor vehicle crashes, drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and suicide.
About 1 million arrests are made each year for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. However, this only represents a small portion of the total number of impaired drivers on the road.
