How Many Accidents Are Caused By Drunk Driving A Year?
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Drunk Driving a Year?
Thousands of Americans lose their lives in car crashes every year, but how many accidents are caused by drunk driving? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has compiled information on more than 34,000 fatal car crashes. It found that 29 people die each day in car crashes involving a drunk driver, a rate of one per 50 minutes.
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In total, 11,654 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2020. The NHTSA reports that drunk drivers account for nearly two-thirds of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. The most common time of year for a drunk driving accident to occur is in the summer months. While the statistics on how many accidents are caused by drunk driving vary from state to state, one thing is certain. The number of drunk driving fatalities has declined by 18% over the past decade.
The most recent data from the NHTSA indicates that 87 percent of all alcohol-impaired driving fatal crashes occurred on non-interstate roads. The most dangerous times for these crashes were dusk and dawn. In addition, 27 percent of these crashes occurred during daylight. Compared to the average time of day, the rate of alcohol involvement in a fatal crash is 3.4 times higher during the day and 1.4 times higher at night.
When evaluating the number of accidents caused by drunk driving, it is important to understand how alcohol affects a person’s judgment. It can slow down a person’s reaction time, decrease their coordination and lead to memory lapses. It can also impair a person’s ability to perceive traffic signs and lights. As a result, people need to avoid drinking and driving.
The number of drunk driving accidents is influenced by several factors, including age, gender, location, and time of day. The most dangerous days for a drunk driving crash are New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. There are also several other dangerous days throughout the year. The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.”
The rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities is calculated for each state. It is then ranked from the highest to the lowest. For example, North Dakota had the largest number of fatalities, while California had the least. In addition, the number of accidents caused by drunk driving is different from year to year, but the percentages are generally similar. It is important to note that the percentages are unrounded estimates.
The number of deaths caused by drunk drivers has declined by almost 50 percent over the last twenty years. However, the number of fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers remains above the numbers of 1990. The cost of societal harm resulting from fatalities from intoxicated drivers was 5.26% of the total cost of harm. The cost of these wrongful deaths is estimated to be $44 billion annually. In addition, the cost of car insurance increases due to the increased risk associated with DUIs.