What Age Group Has The Most Drunk Driving Accidents?

What Age Group Has the Most Drunk Driving Accidents? 

Even though the number of people killed in drunk driving crashes has steadily decreased over the years, it remains an issue. However, some demographics are at higher risk for these accidents than others. Several studies show that young teens without adult supervision after school have higher rates of drug use and alcohol consumption. 

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One study found that one in five drivers who were under 21 years old admitted to driving while intoxicated. Another study found that men were four times more likely to drive under the influence than women. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drunk driving accidents are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. The majority of these victims are young adults, who are more at risk for accidents than older drivers. In addition to killing tens of thousands of people, drunk driving is also a costly problem for the United States, costing approximately $132 billion each year. While the government has taken significant steps to prevent drunk driving by youths under 21, the alcohol policy is not completely successful. 

The rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths for youth under 21 decreased more than for other age groups between 1982 and 1996. The rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 people declined by nearly 50% from 1991 to 2017. While the age groups with the highest rate of alcohol-related traffic accidents have declined over the years, other demographics have shown an increase in crashes. In 2010, there were 211 children killed in drunk driving crashes. In the United States, drivers aged 16 to 20 made up 2.5% of the total number of drunk driving fatalities. This is compared to drivers aged 25 to 34, who accounted for 23% of all drunk driving accidents. 

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers aged 18 to 24 account for 2% of all drunk driving deaths. The rate of drunk driving accidents increased by 17% between 2004 and 2018. In addition to drunk driving, drivers under the age of 21 are also at higher risk for injuries in accidents. A driver under the age of 21 who is involved in an accident with a drunk driver is liable for a Class 6 felony, which carries up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Moreover, if the driver has a previous DUI conviction, he or she can be convicted of a felony and receive up to 2.5 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Regardless of the reason, driving under the influence is an issue that should be addressed years before the legal drinking age. 

A recent survey, conducted by the Zebra survey, investigated drunk driving behavior patterns among drivers in the United States. The survey surveyed 1500 American drivers who were between 35 and 44 years old. The survey was carried out to determine how drunk driving behaviors differ among different age groups and demographics.