These Are the Worst States for Drunk Driving
Travel safety is always a concern during big holidays, especially when it comes to driving. When planning a summer trip, you want to know what kind of traffic you will encounter where you are going . On Halloween, you’re thinking about sidewalk safety in your area. And with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years approaching, find out which neighborhoods have the most drunk drivers.
Forbes Advisor has just published the results of its own study of this issue. Here are the five worst states for drunk driving.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor studied all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC, comparing them across six key indicators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FBI. They also interviewed 5,000 drivers about their experience of drunk driving during the holidays. These results compare the number of DUIs and fatalities involving drunk drivers.
Five worst states for drunk driving
The five states with the highest cumulative score were as follows:
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Texas
- North Dakota
- North Dakota
According to the latest available data, for every 100,000 licensed drivers in Montana, there were 8.39 drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes. For every 100,000 residents, there are 6.92 deaths in drunk driver crashes, and almost half of the state’s road deaths in 2020 were due to drunk drivers.
In terms of DUI, South Dakota had the highest number of arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers, at 965.85. North Dakota came in second with a rate of 918.32 per 100,000 licensed drivers.
States with the Least Drunk Drivers
These states (plus D.C.) had the fewest drunk drivers:
- Washington
- New Jersey
- Utah
- Delaware
- New York
In this analysis, the nation’s capital performed remarkably well, with just 1.84 drunk drivers for every 100,000 licensed drivers involved in fatal crashes. Out of every 100,000 DUI arrests, there were also just 1.69. Only 19% of traffic deaths in the area were caused by drunk drivers in 2020. Washington was the best in the country in all three measures.
If you live in these areas, you may feel a little better about the drunkenness of other drivers, but it’s still important to be careful when you drive on occasions like big holidays when people are most likely to celebrate. with alcohol before driving. And, of course, never drive drunk. You already know it’s dangerous, but if you get caught, it’s going to cost a lot too , even if you manage to avoid hurting or killing someone else.