What share of U.S. traffic deaths involve an alcohol-impaired driver?
In 2024, 30% of U.S. traffic deaths, about 11,900 people, were in crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol level of .08 or more, the legal limit in every state but Utah (.05). The share fell from 48% in 1982 to about 30% by the late 1990s and has stayed near 30% since. Many drivers in fatal crashes aren't tested, so NHTSA estimates the missing levels statistically; these are its estimates.
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Source and date
- Data as of
- Published
The data
| Year | Percent of traffic deaths |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 48 |
| 1983 | 47.1 |
| 1984 | 44.4 |
| 1985 | 41.4 |
| 1986 | 42.4 |
| 1987 | 40.6 |
| 1988 | 39.5 |
| 1989 | 38.4 |
| 1990 | 39.7 |
| 1991 | 38.1 |
| 1992 | 35.8 |
| 1993 | 34.2 |
| 1994 | 32.9 |
| 1995 | 32.2 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1997 | 30.4 |
| 1998 | 30.2 |
| 1999 | 30.1 |
| 2000 | 31.8 |
| 2001 | 31.5 |
| 2002 | 31.3 |
| 2003 | 30.5 |
| 2004 | 30.6 |
| 2005 | 31.2 |
| 2006 | 31.6 |
| 2007 | 31.6 |
| 2008 | 31.3 |
| 2009 | 31.8 |
| 2010 | 30.7 |
| 2011 | 30.4 |
| 2012 | 30.6 |
| 2013 | 30.7 |
| 2014 | 30.4 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 29.1 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 31.5 |
| 2022 | 31.5 |
| 2023 | 30.2 |
| 2024 | 30.3 |