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DUIs Arrests and Fatalities Across the US

Driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents in the United States. The risks of driving while intoxicated are not just limited to the person who makes the decision to get behind the wheel. Other drivers, pedestrians, or passengers who are on the road with a drunk driver are liable to become the tragic collateral damage of one person’s bad decisions. Accordingly, there are strict laws in place to control driving while under the influence, which leads to many arrests across the United States each year.

Arrests as a result of driving under the influence are fairly common and can result in suspension of license, fines, and jail time depending on the frequency and severity of the infraction. Our team decided to look at DUI arrests and fatalities across the United States based on the latest available data which was collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and the FBI and made available in 2017. You can see the results of our study below.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities Across the U.S. Map

The data we found about driving fatalities as a result of alcohol impairment showed a clear indication of how widespread driving while intoxicated is in each state. Based on the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100k people, Wyoming had the highest rate of fatalities in the U.S., with a rate of 7.6. South Carolina and North Dakota took second and third place, both with an average rate of 6.3 and 6.1, respectively.

New Jersey had the fewest alcohol-impaired driving fatalities with a rate of 1.4 per 100k people. Minnesota and New York tied for second on this metric with a rate 1.5 and Utah placed third with 1.7.

DUI Arrests By State

DUI Arrests Across the U.S. Map

When looking at DUI arrests, South Dakota had the highest rate by far. Its DUI arrest rate was 938.8 arrests per 100k people, which is over 100 more people per 100k than North Dakota, the next state on the list. North Dakota had a rate of 836.4 arrests per 100k people, followed by Wyoming. Wyoming lagged far behind the Dakotas with a rate of only 561.5 per 100k people. Wyoming had 377.3 fewer arrests per 100k people than South Dakota overall.

Washington D.C. the lowest rate of DUI arrests by far. Our nation’s capital has a rate of only 3.2 arrests per 100k people. That’s 82.7% lower than the state with the second lowest rate of DUI arrests, Illinois. Illinois has a DUI arrest rate of 18.4. Delaware came in third for the lowest rate of DUI arrests with a rate of 36.1 arrests per 100k people, which is almost twice as many as Illinois.

DUI Arrests and Alcohol-Related Fatalities

DUI Arrests and Alcohol-Related Fatalities by State

The table above reflects a full compilation of the data we collected. Based on the state data our team collected, we found that Washington D.C. has the lowest rate of arrests for DUIs both for minors and adults. The District also had no alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for anyone under 21. California, on the other hand, had the most DUI arrests overall and most arrests of minors for DUIs.

Driving while intoxicated carries risk not only for you but for everyone on the road. With all of the rideshare apps available, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. But, if you’re struggling with alcohol dependency and you’ve noticed that it is affecting your ability to drive safely, we have resources designed to support you. Contact us for more information.

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