
Source: FARS Related Factors for Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, 2019 Top 5 Related Factors for Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes (2019) Yet driving under the influence remains the second most common human factor in fatal car crashes. National Trends: Drunk Driving Remains a Tragic Threat but Steadily DecliningĮxtensive efforts by activists, legislators, and advertisers, accompanied by the acceptance of designated drivers and ridesharing apps, have significantly decreased drunk driving deaths in recent years.

This is why we gathered data on national and state DUI trends as well as how DUI rates have changed since last year. There’s no doubt that driving under the influence is more common than it should be, but it’s also the case that certain areas of the country seem to have a bigger issue with intoxicated drivers than others. Additionally, 22.5 percent of drivers aged 21 or older admitted to driving while intoxicated at least once in 2021, with 12 percent reporting they do so often. Still, drunk driving claims thousands of lives on the road and accounts for more arrests than murder, rape, aggravated assault and burglary combined according to the latest Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data. This is all despite widespread public understanding that driving under the influence is incredibly dangerous - a 2021 study revealed that 78 percent of Americans were very concerned about the danger of drunk driving, and 69 percent were very concerned about the danger of drug-impaired drivers. Additionally, hints of higher impairment rates during COVID-19 have compounded the threats on our roadways. Over 10,000 Americans are killed by drunk drivers annually, with fatalities spiking around holidays. By: Research | Published: Jan 23, 2022įatalities caused by driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs have steadily declined in the US for decades, yet the numbers remain unacceptably high.
