What Age Group Has The Highest Rate Of Drunk Driving?

Who Age Group Has the Highest Rate of Drunk Driving? 

Whether you are a driver or a passenger, you might wonder who among the population has the highest rate of drunk driving. The answer depends on several factors, including age and gender. A person may be more likely to be drunk if he or she is younger. A driver aged 21-24 is the most likely to be arrested for drunk driving. Similarly, drivers in this age group are also more likely to have a high blood alcohol concentration. 

(Looking for a Car Accident Lawyer? Contact us Today! Click here: montaglawoffice.com)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recorded alcohol-related statistics since 1982. In the last decade, the percentage of drunk driving fatalities decreased by almost 31 percent. This trend has continued over the last four years. While the volume of drunk driving deaths decreased, the percentage of people in fatal crashes increased slightly. However, the percentage of drivers under 21 who were legally drunk decreased by almost half. This decrease is largely the result of decreased underage drunk driving. 

According to the NHTSA, drivers aged, 16 to 24 years old accounted for the highest number of drunk driving fatalities in the country. This group made up approximately one-quarter of all alcohol-related traffic fatalities. 

The rate of drunk driving fatalities for drivers aged 21 and under decreased by almost 81 percent from 5,215 in 1982 to 980 in 2019. Similarly, the rate of fatalities for drivers aged 55 and older decreased by nearly 50 percent from 21,113 in 1991 to 10,511 in 2018. The rate of fatal crashes with alcohol-impaired drivers increased slightly from 2017 to 2018. 

Despite the decrease in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, drivers in this age group are still at risk for a DWI. According to the NHTSA, drivers aged, 21 to 29 years old made up 33 percent of all DUI arrests in 2017. In 2017, drivers aged 25 to 34 years old made up 23% of all drunk drivers. This group is also the most likely to have a high blood alcohol concentration. They are also the most likely to have a prior DWI conviction. A driver aged 65 or older is more likely to be arrested for drunk driving than a driver aged 25 to 34. 

Drunk driving is the leading cause of death among minors. According to the NHTSA, over 120,000 emergency rooms treated young people for alcohol-related injuries in 2013. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has fought for years to protect kids, and this is particularly true for young drivers. Despite the decline in fatal traffic accidents, drunk driving remains the leading cause of death among minors. Every 20 minutes someone is injured by a drunk driver. During the summer months, more fatal crashes involve alcohol-impaired drivers. 

Drivers in this age group are also more likely to use rideshare services to get home after drinking. In the year 2019, nearly one in five respondents said they would call a friend to take them home after drinking. In addition, nearly one in three respondents said it took three or four alcoholic drinks to feel unfit to drive. This statistic is also higher among female respondents.