Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be one of the biggest safety issues on U.S. roads. In 2024, 11,904  people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, a decrease of 3.9%, marking the third consecutive yearly improvement.  Alcohol-impaired driving crashes involve at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher.

Progress has been made in reducing alcohol-impaired crashes. In 1982, 48% of all traffic deaths involved alcohol-impaired crashes. This is down to 30% of deaths in 2024. The percentage of lower BAC alcohol-involved crashes (from 0.01 to 0.07 g/dL) has been very stable over the decades, fluctuating between 5% and 7%.

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Multiple programs have contributed to the decrease in alcohol-related deaths on U.S. roads, including high visibility enforcement and minimum drinking age laws.

The prevalence of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes varies by age. Nearly 28% of 21- to 24-year-old drivers in fatal crashes were impaired (BAC 0.08+ g/dL). This percent drops to less than 20% in the 45- to 54-age group and down to about 7% in the 75 and older age group.

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In 2023 (latest analysis available), about 16% of drivers in fatal crashes who test positive for alcohol fell below the 0.08 g/dL BAC legal limit. About half of the drivers in fatal crashes that test positive for alcohol have BACs of 0.15 g/dL or higher. The prevalence of positive BAC levels peak at the 0.13 g/dL levels and steadily decline as BAC levels increase above 0.19 g/dL.

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The infographic provides an overview of the environmental factors associated with alcohol-impaired crashes. More than half occur on urban roads, and the vast majority happen in good weather (88%). About 69% of these crashes occur at night, and 35% occur on residential streets (local and collector roads). In 2024, July experienced the most alcohol-impaired crashes (representing about 9% of the yearly total), while January experienced the fewest (7%).

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How to Use Injury Facts® Charts and Tables

Sources:

National Safety Council (NSC) analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data.

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