Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock There were an estimated 42,795 fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2022, down by 0.3% from the year prior, according to early estimates released in April 2023 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While a reduction in crash-related deaths, even one as slight as this, is generally positive, the facts remain deeply concerning: Crash-related deaths rose more than 10% in 2021 and more than 7% the year before that, marking a disturbing trend leading into and persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the most recent full year of traffic-death data available, drunken driving fatalities rose by 14% from 2020. Monge and Associates cited data from NHTSA to identify states with the highest rate of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver. States are ranked by drunken driving fatalities per 100,000 residents. This rate is listed up to its first decimal point, but the exact ranking of states was determined from the total rate calculation, which did not result in ties. A blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher is considered impaired. Judgment and driving abilities continue to worsen as BAC levels increase. Laws adopted between 1982 and 1997 throughout most of the U.S. successfully decreased the proportion of DUI-related motor vehicle fatalities in subsequent years. Alternative transportation programs have also shown some promise in helping to deter drunken driving. Even in areas lacking robust transit options, recent studies suggest that alternatives such as rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can reduce drunken driving-related collisions. Keep reading to see what percentage of car crash deaths in your state involved drunken driving. #52. Washington DC Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.8 (12, 30% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (9, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 300% increase #51. New Jersey Andrew F. Kazmierski // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (178, 25% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.2 per 100K (114, 64% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.5% increase #50. Hawaii Adra Keri // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (28, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.0 per 100K (14, 50% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.4% decrease #49. New York Photo Spirit // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.0 (388, 34% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (249, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.1% increase #48. Massachusetts Tony Dunn // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.1 (150, 36% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.4 per 100K (95, 63.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 16.3% increase #47. Rhode Island Big Joe // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.2 (24, 39% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (18, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.3% decrease #46. Minnesota Steve Skjold // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.3 (130, 27% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (90, 69.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14% increase #45. Utah Bob Pool // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.4 (79, 24% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (52, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 146.9% increase #44. Pennsylvania Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.6 (337, 27% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.7 per 100K (221, 65.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.2% decrease #43. Alaska O.C Ritz // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.0 (22, 33% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.9 per 100K (14, 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 46.7% increase #42. Connecticut Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.1 (112, 38% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (73, 65.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12% increase #41. Maryland Suraju Kehinde // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (195, 35% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (124, 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 19.6% increase #40. Michigan Real Window Creative // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (325, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (219, 67.4% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.5% increase #39. New Hampshire Alizada Studios // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (45, 38% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (31, 68.9% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.6% increase #38. Virginia Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (187, 66.5% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 34.4% increase #37. Maine Ronald Rampsch // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (45, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (35, 77.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 10% decrease #36. Nebraska Sandra Foyt // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (65, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (44, 67.7% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 11% decrease #35. Delaware Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (34, 25% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (21, 61.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.9% decrease #34. Wisconsin DavidCarpio // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (199, 32% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (125, 62.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.5% decrease #33. Washington Ceri Breeze // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (262, 39% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.3 per 100K (181, 69.1% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83.2% increase #32. Indiana Shadowspeeder // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (234, 25% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (153, 65.4% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.7% increase #31. California David A Litman // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.5 (1,370, 32% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (880, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 65.3% increase #30. Puerto Rico Christian Ouellet // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (116, 34% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (73, 62.9% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 6.5% decrease #29. Vermont SNEHIT PHOTO // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (23, 31% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (14, 60.9% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.2% decrease #28. Georgia New Visions Media // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (391, 22% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (272, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 32.5% increase #27. Illinois Matt Gush // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (461, 35% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (332, 72% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.2% increase #26. West Virginia Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (65, 23% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (47, 72.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 30.9% decrease #25. Nevada Trevor Bexon // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (116, 30% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (80, 69% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase #24. Iowa A_Lesik // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (118, 33% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.4 per 100K (78, 66.1% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 22.9% increase #23. Kansas barteverett // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (109, 26% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (76, 69.7% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.8% increase #22. Colorado Paul Gana // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (216, 31% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.7 per 100K (158, 73.1% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 61.2% increase #21. Kentucky Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (190, 24% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.0 per 100K (136, 71.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12.4% increase #20. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (33, 33% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (26, 78.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 54.2% decrease #19. North Carolina ESB Professional // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.4 (466, 28% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.8 per 100K (300, 64.4% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 25.3% increase #18. Idaho steve estvanik // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (85, 31% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.4 per 100K (65, 76.5% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 63.5% increase #17. Ohio Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (531, 39% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (373, 70.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase #16. Florida YES Market Media // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (1,019, 27% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (688, 67.5% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.7% increase #15. Missouri Real Window Creative // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (290, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (196, 67.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.5% increase #14. Oklahoma Gerson Repreza // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.8 (192, 25% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (139, 72.4% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.1% decrease #13. Oregon TFoxFoto // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (215, 36% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (142, 66% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 144.3% increase #12. Tennessee Canva – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (355, 27% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (247, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.1% increase #11. Mississippi TLF Images // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.3 (155, 20% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (102, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.8% decrease #10. Alabama Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.6 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (177, 63% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.1% increase #9. Arizona Johnny Coate // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (421, 36% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (275, 65.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83% increase #8. South Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (52, 35% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.8 per 100K (43, 82.7% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.2% increase #7. Arkansas Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.1 (185, 27% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (116, 62.7% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 28.5% increase #6. Texas Moab Republic // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.4 (1,906, 42% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (1,301, 68.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 47.8% increase #5. Louisiana William A. Morgan // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.5 (299, 31% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (203, 67.9% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 27.2% increase #4. Wyoming Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.6 (38, 34% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.0 per 100K (29, 76.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 7.3% decrease #3. New Mexico Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 7.3 (154, 32% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.2 per 100K (111, 72.1% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 58.8% increase #2. South Carolina Chris Perello // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 7.7 (401, 33% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.4 per 100K (282, 70.3% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 15.2% increase #1. Montana Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock – Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 9.4 (104, 44% of all car crash fatalities) – Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 6.7 per 100K (74, 71.2% of all drunken driving fatalities) – Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 16.9% increase Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Monge and Associates and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
States with the most drunk driving fatalities
Aug 16, 2023 | 4:30 PM
