Intoxicated drivers cost the U.S. economy billions each year. Although driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in every U.S. state and offenders face major consequences, one person dies every 39 minutes from drunk driving in America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Alcohol-related traffic fatalities jumped in 2020 and peaked at more than 13,600 deaths in 2021. Though fewer Americans were on the road, drivers became more reckless during the pandemic, and NHTSA analysis shows impaired driving was a major factor.[1]

From impaired driving rates and drunk driving’s effect on the economy to how states penalize offenders, this article includes sourced, well-documented data about drunk driving in the U.S.

What is drunk driving?

Drunk driving is what it sounds like — driving while drunk. You may see the charge referred to as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while impaired, driving while intoxicated, or another variation.

In the U.S., having a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than or equal to 0.08% means a driver is “drunk,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.[2] Some states have stricter laws with lower BAC limits.

Driving drunk has significant risks and consequences — namely the high percentage of fatal crashes. Intoxicated drivers can face license suspension or loss, increased insurance premiums, insurance policy cancellation or non-renewal, fines and legal fees, civil lawsuits, and even jail time.

National drunk driving statistics

In 2022, the year for which the most recent national data is available, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving deaths, according to the NHTSA, which collects data on drunk driving in the U.S.[3]

Generally, laws consider any fatal accident involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08% or greater to be an alcohol-impaired driving crash. Having a BAC below the legal limit can also impair driving: In 2022, 2,337 people died in alcohol-related crashes in which a driver’s BAC was 0.01%–0.07%, according to the NHTSA.[3]

Drunk driving fatalities by year

Here’s a look at alcohol-related driving fatalities by year in the U.S. for a 10-year period. While drunk driving deaths reached their lowest point in 2014, numbers began to increase the very next year and have been high since the pandemic.

Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2021 Data and Traffic Safety Facts 2022 Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The most recent available NHTSA data is from 2022.

From 2012–2022, the average annual number of drunk driving fatalities was around 11,000, brought up by higher numbers in recent years. Though Americans drove less during the pandemic, 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020, the most since 2007, according to the NHTSA.[1] About 30% were alcohol-related fatalities. An NHTSA analysis showed the main contributing behaviors were impaired driving, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt.

Fatalities were even higher in 2021 and 2022, seemingly for similar reasons. Traffic fatalities from speeding reached a 14-year high in 2021. The NHTSA found drivers in speeding-related crashes were driving drunk more frequently than drivers not speeding, and more than half were not wearing seat belts.[4]

Drunk driving economic impact

Drunk driving cost the economy $58 billion in 2019, according to the NHTSA.[5] That includes billions of dollars for healthcare, legal fees, property damage, and lost household and market productivity. Costs of drunk driving crashes tend to exceed other types of crashes, mostly based on severity.

When you factor in lost quality of life, the number is much higher. The NHTSA calculates $296 billion in total societal harm from alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes.[5]

Drunk driving statistics by state

The states with the highest number of traffic fatalities from impaired driving crashes in 2022 were, understandably, the most populous: California, Texas, and Florida, according to the NHTSA.[6] South Carolina was the worst state for drunk driving in 2022, with an alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate of 0.80 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Utah had the lowest rate, at 0.21.

Statistics can differ from state to state, as some have more severe laws to discourage drunk driving or more robust prevention and education programs. States also test drivers’ BAC at different rates. Of drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022, Mississippi tested 8% with known BAC results, while Alaska tested 77%, according to the NHTSA.[6]

Drunk driving fatalities by state

These are the states with the most and least alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per the most recent NHTSA data from 2022.

Source: Traffic Fatalities, by State and Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 2022; State Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Estimates: 2022 Data; NHTSA.

Legal consequences of drunk driving

The legal consequences of driving drunk vary by state but typically all come down to a mix of similar penalties. Some states charge DUIs as a misdemeanor, some as a civil infraction, and some as a felony minimum sentence. Judicial discretion also varies.

Drivers can face imprisonment, fines and legal costs, license suspension and revocation, treatment programs, and higher insurance premiums. Many states also impose periods requiring the convicted driver to use an ignition interlock device (IID): a small breathalyzer connected to the car’s ignition installed to prevent intoxicated driving.

How drunk driving affects car insurance rates

Your driving record affects your car insurance premiums significantly. If you have a history of risky driving, insurers will quote you higher rates to account for that risk.

Important Information

Drivers with a DUI pay 67% above average for car insurance, while drivers with a clean record save about 7%, according to Insurify data.