Impaired Driving Statistics: Understanding the Numbers

Impaired driving remains a significant concern in the United States, contributing to a substantial number of traffic fatalities each year. Analyzing recent data provides insight into trends and underscores the importance of continued efforts to combat this issue.

National Overview

• Fatalities: In 2022, 13,524 individuals lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 32% of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. (nhtsa.gov)

• Daily Impact: This equates to approximately 37 deaths per day, or one person every 39 minutes. (nhtsa.gov)

Trends Over Time

• Recent Changes: The 13,524 fatalities in 2022 represent a slight decrease of 0.7% from the previous year, following two consecutive years of increases. (injuryfacts.nsc.org)

• Long-Term Perspective: Since 1982, there has been a 55% decrease in the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population. (responsibility.org)

Demographic Insights

• Age Groups: Drivers aged 21 to 44 are disproportionately involved in fatal crashes with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. (cdc.gov)

• Underage Impact: In 2020, 229 children aged 0–14 years were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, representing 21% of traffic-related deaths in this age group. (cdc.gov)

State Variations

• Fatality Rates: In 2022, the national rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities was 4.1 per 100,000 population. In 27 states and the District of Columbia, the rate was at or below this national level. (responsibility.org)

Economic Impact

• Financial Costs: Beyond the tragic loss of life, impaired driving imposes significant economic burdens, including medical expenses, legal costs, and lost productivity.

These statistics highlight the ongoing challenge of impaired driving and the critical need for effective prevention and intervention strategies to enhance road safety.