Staying Safe on the Roads: Impaired Driving Statistics and Information

While the holiday season is upon us and many who are of age choose to celebrate with liquid libations and indulge in alcoholic beverages, it is important to remember the consequences of impaired driving. Impaired driving not only endangers the driver, but also everyone else on the road. Regardless of if you’ve had one drink or many, it’s always safest to call a friend, cab, or Uber to take you to your desired destination to keep everyone safe. The following statistics and information are presented to promote safe driving and spread awareness of the most common impaired driving conditions.

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 11,654 people lost their lives in impaired crashes. These impaired crashes accounted for 30% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities for 2020 in the United States, a 14.3% increase from 2019. This is a huge increase that averages to one impaired driving fatality every 45 minutes.

Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) are 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Therefore, any fatal crash involving a driver with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher is considered to be an alcohol impaired-driving crash. We often categorize this act as “drunk driving.” In 2020, the 21- to 24-year-old and 25- to 34-year-old age groups had the highest percentages (26% each) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes. By analyzing these impaired driving scenarios, it has also been found that there were 4 male alcohol impaired drivers to every female involved in a drunk-driving crash. The percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes was the highest for motorcycle riders (27%), compared to drivers of passenger cars (23%), light trucks (19%), and large trucks (3%). Even without alcohol in the mix, vision is impaired when driving at night. Therefore, be on the lookout for suspect driving at night as fatal drunk-driving crashes were 3.1 times higher at night than during the day in 2020. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reported on drunk driving in different states across the US. They found that alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities were highest in Texas (1,495), followed by California (1,159) and Florida (871), and lowest in the District of Columbia (7). 

To keep yourself and those around you safe on the roads, keep these statistics in mind as you celebrate this holiday season. To learn more about how to stay safe when traveling by motorized vehicle, visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-1

DII is your partner in safety this holiday season. Our team of experts can work with you to understand how to protect your friends, family, and coworkers while you celebrate the holidays. Please contact your DII representative for more information.  #HolidaySeason #DrunkDriving #ImpairedDriving