Arielle Cruz
Alcohol-related accidents are a significant issue in the United States, with drunk driving being a leading cause of fatal car crashes. In 2022, approximately 13,524 people lost their lives in drunk driving incidents, representing a decrease from previous years but still accounting for about 32% of all traffic deaths. Young people are particularly vulnerable, with almost a third of young drivers killed in crashes involving underage drinking, and college-aged drivers being involved in 19% of drunk driving accidents. The financial impact is also substantial, with impaired-driving crashes costing the nation $68.9 billion annually. These statistics highlight the devastating consequences of alcohol-impaired driving and the need for continued efforts to address this preventable cause of injuries and deaths.
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What You'll Learn
Drunk driving fatalities
Drunk driving is a deadly problem that persists across the United States. Alcohol impairs a person's ability to drive safely, and the more alcohol consumed, the greater the effect. In 2023, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 were about four times more likely to crash than sober drivers. At a BAC of 0.15, drivers are at least 12 times more likely to crash.
In 2023, there were 12,429 people killed in drunk driving crashes in the US, with about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities involving drunk drivers with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. This equates to around 29 people dying each day in accidents involving drunk drivers. In 2021, 17% of young drivers aged 15-20 who died in car crashes had a BAC of 0.08 or higher. The same year, 25% of the 1,184 children aged 14 and younger killed in traffic accidents died in drunk driving crashes.
While drunk driving fatalities have decreased since 1982, when they accounted for 48% of all traffic deaths, they still claimed the lives of an estimated 13,524 people in 2022. This figure represents a 14% increase from 2020. The rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 population was 4.1 in 2022, down from 5.2 in 1982.
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Alcohol-related injuries
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents continue to be a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2023, about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities in the US involved drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. This equates to 12,429 people killed in these preventable crashes. The risk of crashing increases significantly with BAC levels: drivers with a BAC of 0.08 are approximately four times more likely to crash than sober drivers, and at a BAC of 0.15, drivers are at least 12 times more likely to crash. Young people are particularly vulnerable, with almost a third of young drivers killed in crashes involving underage drinking. In 2021, 17% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in car crashes had a BAC of 0.08 or higher. College-aged drivers are involved in almost 19% of drunk driving accidents, with male college students engaging in riskier behaviour.
Progress and Challenges
While progress has been made in reducing alcohol-impaired crashes, with a decrease from 48% of all traffic deaths in 1982 to 32% in 2022, there is still much work to be done. Minimum drinking age laws and high-visibility enforcement have contributed to saving lives, but drunk driving fatalities still occur daily, with 29 people dying each day in accidents involving a drunk driver. Additionally, alcohol-impaired drivers are most likely to be involved in fatal crashes in certain months, with July, August, and October seeing some of the highest percentages.
In conclusion, alcohol-related injuries in the US encompass a range of harms, from drunk driving accidents to chronic conditions and suicide. While efforts to reduce alcohol-impaired crashes have shown progress, addressing alcohol misuse and its consequences remains an ongoing challenge.
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Accidents by state
Alcohol-related accidents have had devastating impacts on the lives of Americans and have resulted in staggering economic costs. While drunk driving fatalities have been on a downward trajectory since 1991, thousands of people in the United States continue to lose their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes each year.
In 2023, 12,429 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, with about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities involving drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. This figure translates to about 37 people dying every day in alcohol-related car crashes, or one death every 39 minutes. The risk of crashing increases with higher BAC levels; drivers with a BAC of 0.08 are approximately four times more likely to crash than sober drivers, while those with a BAC of 0.15 are at least 12 times more likely to crash.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related accidents. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in crashes had BACs of 0.01 g/dL or higher. Among teens, one in four crashes involves an underage drunk driver, and 50% of teens aged 21 or younger who died in car accidents were passengers. College-aged drivers are involved in almost 19% of drunk driving accidents, and almost 50% of underage students with access to a car admitted to driving after drinking.
The impact of drunk driving extends beyond those directly involved in the crashes. In 2023, 25% of children aged 14 and younger killed in motor vehicle crashes were in drunk-driving-related incidents, with more than half of these children being in the vehicle driven by the drunk driver.
While drunk driving fatalities have decreased by 41% since 1982, and fatalities among those under 21 have decreased by 83%, there are still geographical disparities within the United States. In 2019, 30 states had alcohol-related death rates in the double digits, with the highest rates found in western states. New Mexico had the highest death rate at 34.3 deaths per 100,000 people, while Hawaii had the lowest at 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people. American Indians and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths, with a rate of 50.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019, up from 30.8 in 2006.
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Accidents by vehicle type
Alcohol-impaired driving is one of the biggest safety issues on US roads. In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, a slight decrease from the previous two years. In 2023, this figure rose to 12,429 people. Drunk driving accidents are responsible for about 11,000 deaths every year and about one-third of all traffic-related deaths. That's about 37 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities every day, or one death every 39 minutes.
In 2021, the vehicle types whose drivers had the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities were motorcycles (28%), passenger cars (24%), light trucks (20%), and large trucks (3%). Of the 1,184 children aged 14 and younger killed in traffic accidents in 2021, 25% (294) died in drunk driving crashes. In 2022, more than 280 children were killed in drunk-driving crashes, and in 2023, this figure was 25%.
Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes have the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers compared to any other vehicle type. In 2023, of the 6,335 people operating a motorcycle who were killed in traffic crashes, 1,668 (26%) were drunk. The 35-to-39 and 45-to-49 age groups had the highest percentage (34% each) of drunk motorcycle riders killed in 2023.
The risk of crashing increases with higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Drivers with a BAC of .08 are approximately four times more likely to crash than drivers with a BAC of zero. At a BAC of .15, drivers are at least 12 times more likely to crash than sober drivers. In 2021, 67% of alcohol-impaired driving deaths (9,027) involved at least one driver with a BAC of .15 or higher.
While drunk driving fatalities have decreased by 36% since 1982, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious issue in the US. Various programs and initiatives, such as high-visibility enforcement and minimum drinking age laws, have contributed to the reduction in alcohol-related deaths.
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Accidents by age
Alcohol-related accidents are a significant cause for concern in the United States, with a high number of fatalities and injuries each year. While drunk driving fatalities have decreased since 1982, it is still a prevalent issue, especially among certain age groups. Here is a breakdown of accidents by age:
Under 21 years
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a significant decrease in drunk driving fatalities among those under 21. In 1982, there were 5,215 such fatalities, while in 2022, this number decreased to 1,345, with a record low of 904 in 2019. This decrease is attributed to minimum drinking age laws, which have saved an estimated 31,000 lives between 1975 and 2017. Despite this progress, drunk driving among minors is still a concern. In 2023, 30% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher, and 17% had a BAC of .08 or higher in 2021. Additionally, in 2021, 16 to 24-year-olds comprised 42% of drivers killed in alcohol-related crashes.
College-aged (18 to 24 years)
College-aged individuals are also at high risk for alcohol-related accidents. Almost 2,000 college students in this age group die each year from unintentional alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. Male college students are more likely to engage in risky behaviours such as drinking and driving, but female students also do so to some extent. Approximately 50% of underage students with access to a car admitted to driving after drinking, and one in five admitted to driving while intoxicated. This age group also includes young drivers with newly acquired licences, making them more vulnerable to accidents.
25 to 34 years
Among fatal crashes, over 41% of drivers in this age group were found to be alcohol-impaired (BAC of 0.08 g/dL or higher). This is the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers among all age groups.
35 to 49 years
While statistics specifically regarding accidents are not available for this age group, it is worth noting that the 35-to-39 and 45-to-49 age groups had the highest percentage (34% each) of drunk motorcycle riders killed in 2023.
55 years and older
The percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes decreases with age. For those aged 55 to 64, less than 30% were found to be impaired, and this number drops to below 15% for individuals 75 years and older.
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Frequently asked questions
10,511 people died in alcohol-related accidents in 2018, according to NHTSA.
29 people die each day in drunk-driving accidents, which is about 37 people dying every day in drunk-driving car crashes. This equals one alcohol-impaired driving fatality every 39 minutes.
In 2021, the percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes was highest for motorcycle riders at 28%.
