How Many People Die From Drunk Driving In The Us?
How Many People Die From Drunk Driving in the US?
There are many statistics regarding the number of people who die from drunk driving accidents in the US. For example, the NHTSA reports that in 2018, there were 10,511 fatalities from drunk driving accidents. In addition, the FBI reports that there were over one million people arrested for DUIs in 2018. In 2016, drunk driving accounted for about 28 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. Fortunately, the rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 people decreased by almost 50 percent from 1991 to 2017, and the decrease was even greater among drivers who were of legal drinking age.
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Statistics
Drunk driving is one of the most common ways to cause fatal crashes. Statistics show that more than 10,000 people die each year due to drunk driving accidents. While these deaths are on the rise, they represent only a fraction of the total traffic fatalities in the US. Drunk driving fatalities vary widely based on age, gender, and location. Young adults, motorcyclists, and people with a previous DUI conviction are the most likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
The number of teens killed in alcohol-impaired crashes is on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen fatalities increased by 250% from 2011 to 2020. In North Carolina alone, 15% of fatally injured drivers had a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher.
Number of fatalities
The District of Columbia is among the states with the lowest number of fatalities from drunk driving in the US. In 2019, there were only six fatalities as a result of drunk driving in the District. Historically, the District has had the lowest number of drunk driving fatalities. In 2016, there were nearly half as many fatalities as a result of drunk driving.
Overall, alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for about a quarter of all road fatalities, but this percentage is still alarming. However, there are some ways to reduce these statistics. For example, the number of fatalities caused by drunk driving has decreased dramatically nationwide in the last several decades.
Number of repeat offenders
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-third of all DWI arrests are repeat offenders. However, this percentage varies from state to state. In Iowa, the number is 21%, while in New Mexico, it is 47%. Further research is needed to confirm these statistics.
Recent studies have shown that repeat drunk drivers are dangerous drivers. They are four times more likely to cause a fatal car accident than non-DUI drivers. And the risk increases with every arrest.
Number of children killed in drunk-driving accidents
Drunk-driving accidents are among the leading causes of death for children. In 2010, for instance, one out of every five child passenger deaths involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. This figure, however, is lower than it was a decade ago. In the past decade, the death rate per 100,000 children has decreased by 41%.
Statistics from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which tracks the number of fatal car accidents in the U.S., show that between 2001 and 2010 there were 2,075 deaths of children. Of these, 65 percent of those children were in the passenger seat with the drunk driver. In the same period, the number of fatalities involving children decreased by 41 percent, which may be attributed to campaigns aimed at reducing drunk driving. In addition, more children are wearing seatbelts when they ride in vehicles.