Which State Currently Ranks No. 1 for Drunk Driving Fatalities?

In the US, drunk driving is still a serious problem that has disastrous repercussions for the individuals involved as well as their families. Several states have been identified as having the highest rates of drunk driving in 2024 after a thorough examination of numerous data. Using information and analysis from reliable sources, this article will examine the states with the greatest rates of drunk driving deaths.

Forbes Advisor carried out a thorough analysis comparing all 50 states using six important parameters in order to determine which ones have the greatest incidence of drunk driving. These indicators included, among other things, the number of DUI arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers, the number of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers per 100,000 state residents, and the number of drunk driver-related crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. The FBI and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provided the averages for the data used in these measurements, which covered the years 2017 through 2021.

The states with the highest rates of drunk driving deaths in 2024, according to the analysis, are as follows:

1. California: Among the states with a considerable number of cases, California stands out as having the highest number of fatalities from drunk driving. With 1,120 reported drunk driving deaths in 2017 alone, it was the top state in this category.

2. Florida and North Carolina: With 839 and 413 instances, respectively, these two states, which trailed California in terms of drunk driving fatalities, also reported a significant number of such incidents.

3. Connecticut: Interestingly, with 84% of all driving fatalities nationwide being linked to drunk driving, Connecticut leads the country in this regard.

The severity of drunk driving events is also influenced by the kind of vehicle involved. At 43% of all crashes, regular passenger cars are the most common type of vehicle used in drunk driving deaths. However, the greatest proportion of drunk driving deaths occurs on motorcycles; drunk driving is a factor in 27% of all fatal motorcycle crashes.

As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s data, the following states had the highest number of fatalities due to impaired driving per 100,000 population in 2018:

1. Wyoming: The state with the highest number of drunk driving fatalities ranks first, with 7.60 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
2. South Carolina: With 6.23 fatalities per 100,000 residents, South Carolina comes in second to Wyoming.
3. North Dakota: With 6.09 deaths per 100,000 residents, North Dakota comes in second.
4. New Mexico: The state of New Mexico records 5.75 deaths per 100,000 residents.
5. Alabama: The state has 5.50 deaths for per 100,000 residents.

In the US, drunk driving is still a serious problem that results in many fatalities and lasting effects for people who drive after drinking. To lessen these unfortunate instances, we may concentrate our efforts on prevention and education by identifying the states with the greatest rates of drunk driving fatalities. To prevent drunk driving and preserve lives on our roads, it is imperative that we keep advocating for road safety.