Texas continued to lead the nation in drunk driving deaths during 2019, even as the total number of alcohol-related fatalities fell slightly across the state.
2019 Texas Drunk Driving Crashes Claimed 1,332 Lives
According to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,332 people were killed in Texas drunk driving crashes, down 107 deaths from the previous year.
Although every state considers a driver to be legally intoxicated when their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) reaches .08, motorists are breaking the law as soon as alcohol or drugs begin to impair their driver. The NHTSA report indicates that a quarter of the Texas motorists involved in fatal drunk driving accidents in 2019 had a BAC above .15, while 37% had BACs above .08.
California had the second-highest number of drunk driving fatalities in 2019, with 949.
Drunk Driving Deaths Accounted for 28% of all U.S. Traffic Fatalities
Drunk driving deaths accounted for 28% of all traffic fatalities reported nationwide in 2019, a year in which alcohol-impaired driving claimed the lives of 10,142 Americans. While that represents a 5.3% drop compared to 2018, it also means that one drunk driving death occurred somewhere in the United States every 52 minutes.
The vast majority (68%) of the alcohol-impaired drivers involved in those crashes had a BAC of .15 or higher. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019 was 3.3 times higher at night than during the day.
The percentage of drunk driving deaths among total traffic fatalities in individual States ranged from a high of 44% (Rhode Island) to a low of 16% (Utah).
Who Drove While Impaired in 2019?
The percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019 was the highest for motorcycle riders (29%), compared to drivers of passenger cars (20%), light trucks (19%), and large trucks (2%).
The 21- to 24-year-old age group had the highest percentage (27%) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019, followed by the 25- to 30-year-old age group (25%). The year also saw four male drunk drivers involved for every female alcohol-impaired driver involved.
Drunk drivers in fatal accidents were four times more likely to have prior DWI convictions compared to those with no alcohol in their system (8% and 2%, respectively).
Drunk Drivers Killed More than 200 Children in 2019
A total of 1,053 children 14-years-old and younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019, including 204 who died in alcohol-related accidents. Of those:
- 109 (53%) were passengers of vehicles with alcohol-impaired drivers
- 60 (29%) were occupants of other vehicles
- 31 (15%) were nonoccupants (pedestrians, pedal cyclists, or other nonoccupants)
- 4 (2%) were child drivers
Preventing Drunk Driving Crashes and Deaths
The best way to prevent drunk driving crashes and deaths is to never drive after drinking:
- Always plan a safe ride home before you go out. Choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver. If you do drink, call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend to take you home.
- When hosting a party where alcohol is served, ask guests to plan and designate a sober driver before they arrive; offer alcohol-free beverages, and make sure all guests get home safely.
- Never let others drive drunk. Take their keys and arrange a sober ride home for them or have them stay for the night.
To protect yourself and others from impaired drivers:
- A seatbelt is your best defense. Wear it anytime you’re on the road.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and contact local law enforcement.
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