ALCOHOL AND ADULT DRIVING

Statistics on alcohol and driving for adults provide insights into the prevalence and consequences of alcohol-impaired driving among this demographic.

Here are some key statistics

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Crashes

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired driving crashes accounted for 28% of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States in 2019.

In 2019, there were 10,142 fatalities in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. This means that, on average, alcohol-impaired driving crashes result in approximately 28 deaths per day.

The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving in the United States is typically 0.08%. In fatal crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2019, 66% of the drivers had a BAC of 0.15% or higher.

Despite efforts to deter drunk driving, a significant proportion of alcohol-impaired driving arrests involve repeat offenders. In 2019, 21% of drivers involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of 0.08% or higher, and 16% had a BAC of 0.15% or higher.

Young adults aged 21 to 34 have the highest rates of involvement in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Additionally, men are more likely than women to be involved in alcohol-impaired driving incidents.
These statistics highlight the ongoing challenges and consequences of alcohol-impaired driving among adults in the United States, underscoring the importance of continued efforts to reduce and prevent this dangerous behavior through targeted interventions and public health initiatives.