Impact of Drunk Driving
Statistics from MADD and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- In 2004, 16,694 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. That's an average of about two people every hour. These alcohol-related crash victims make up about 39 percent of 42,636 total traffic deaths.
- Drunk driving is our most frequently committed violent crime.
- More Americans have died in alcohol-related crashes than in all wars we have fought since 1776.
- One-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of DWI or DUI are repeat offenders. (Fell, 1995)
- The role alcohol plays in our nation's automobile crash costs is tremendous. 26% of automobile crash costs in the US involve alcohol. The price tag to the public was approximately $114.3 billion in 2000.
- Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes.
While We're At It
- Unbelted occupants account for 78% of impaired driving fatalities.
- 32%-34% of child fatalities in the United States are kids sitting improperly in the front seat or without seat belts or car seats. Drinking drivers are more likely than other drivers to transport children improperly.
- 7% of alcohol-related crash deaths are motorcyclists and 52% of these were unhelmeted.
