How Many People Die From Drunk Driving?
How Many People Die From Drunk Driving Every 52 Minutes?
Drunk driving is a major cause of accidents and is illegal in all 50 states. Every 52 minutes, a person dies in a drunk driving crash. Drunk drivers account for one-third of all traffic-related fatalities. From 2010 to 2019, an average of 10,000 people died in drunk driving crashes. Most fatal crashes involve repeat offenders and occur in urban areas and nice weather.
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Number of fatalities caused by drunk driving
According to the latest federal statistics, drunk driving is responsible for approximately twenty percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide. This statistic includes fatalities caused by drunk drivers, motorcycle riders, and no-driver crashes. These statistics are based on unrounded estimates and may not be accurate. Some states may experience higher fatality rates than others, though.
Sadly, drunk drivers are responsible for the deaths of over eleven thousand innocent people every year. In New York State alone, approximately one person dies from a drunk driving accident every 30 minutes. Even worse, the number of fatal crashes related to drunk drivers is much higher on weekends. According to recent statistics, drunk drivers are behind the wheel nearly eighty times before they are arrested. Consequently, most drivers will cross paths with drunk drivers at some point in their lives.
Number of fatalities caused by repeat offenders
In 2016, more than ten thousand people were killed as a result of drunk driving accidents. Although this number is still very high, it’s on a downward trend. The rate of fatalities caused by intoxicated driving has declined by more than 50 percent in the last 20 years. This decline was even greater in the age group of under twenty-one-year-old drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one-third of all drunk driving arrests are made by repeat offenders. Only about 10 percent of drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents are first-time offenders. This trend suggests that the enforcement of state laws has been effective in reducing the number of impaired drivers and deaths caused by drunk driving. However, further research is needed to determine whether specific enforcement tactics are more effective than others.
The majority of fatalities occurred in urban areas
Statistics show that most fatal crashes occurred in urban areas, while most nonfatal crashes occurred in rural areas. In the past year, fatal crashes occurred in urban areas 61 percent more often than in rural areas, and pedestrian deaths occurred in urban areas more often than in rural areas. However, these statistics may not be representative of all areas.
In urban areas, the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving is lower than in rural areas. This is true for all age groups, including 21 to 24-year-olds. However, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In addition, the proportion of rural drivers with valid licenses was higher than that of urban drivers.
The majority of fatalities occurred in good weather
Drunk driving crashes are life-threatening accidents that result from impaired driving. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle when a motorist’s blood alcohol level is 0.08 percent or more. The majority of such crashes occur in urban areas, and most fatalities happen during clear or partially cloudy weather. However, the most dangerous times of year to drive while intoxicated are December and January.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most drunk driving accidents occur during rush hour, which is between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., although there are exceptions. The worst days to drive are Saturday and Sunday because more drivers are out on the road and more drunk drivers are on the road. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that the number of fatal drunk driving crashes on weekends is 31% higher than on weekdays. Also, alcohol-related crashes are four times as dangerous during the night.
The majority of fatalities occurred in the dark
Statistics show that most drunk driving crashes occur at night, with 69 percent occurring between midnight and three in the morning. In contrast, only three percent occur during the daytime, which is when most people are more likely to be awake and on the road. According to recent reports, more people are choosing to drink at home, which means fewer accidents and fewer injuries. Despite the reduction in accidents, more deaths were recorded due to drunk driving.