Intoxicated Driver Statistics

Nationally, 12.8% of all drivers involved in fatal accidents during 2001 are known to have been intoxicated according to the BAC laws of their state. This number is based on a systematic examination of the official records of each and every accident involving a fatality during that year in the US. It is based on factual evidence rather than on estimates or even guesses.
                                          
The higher number (about 39%) commonly reported in the press refers to accidents in which there was believed to have been some alcohol consumed by anyone associated with the accident. For example, if a person who was believed to have consumed any alcohol is stopped at a red light and is rear-ended by an inattentive completely sober driver, that accident is considered to be alcohol-related.

The proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes in each state who are known to have been intoxicated is listed in the table below.

State	% Known Intoxicated
Alabama	3.45%
North Carolina	9.80%
North Dakota	28.57%
Ohio	16.29%
Oklahoma	9.40%
Oregon	16.61%
Pennsylvania	13.77%
Rhode Island	22.61%
South Carolina	16.46%
South Dakota	22.94%
Tennessee	7.05%
Texas	10.16%
Utah	9.46%
Vermont	21.01%
Virginia	8.98%
Washington	18.48%
West Virginia	17.59%
Wisconsin	22.45%
Wyoming	20.39%

Alcohol-related fatalities have fallen dramatically in the US over the past 20 years. However, even a single such death is a needless tragedy and we must continue the fight against drunk driving using every legal and effective means available.

 For more information, visit Drunk Driving; We Can Prevent It and Preventing Drunk Driving.

These DUI/DWI statistics are based on official records including information on blood alcohol contents (BACs). The figures are much more accurate than those widely reported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and others because they are not based on estimates, projections and other educated guesses. Copies of those records are available for inspection at www.ridl.us, and these statistics are posted by permission of Responsibility in DUI Laws.