09/02/2025
National DUI / Alcohol-Impaired Driving Statistics (Up to 2023)
In 2023, alcohol-impaired driving caused 12,429 traffic fatalities in the U.S., a decrease from the previous year, but still representing about one death every 42 minutes and roughly 32% of all traffic deaths. Fatalities increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the years 2020–2022. Younger drivers, particularly those aged 21-24, are disproportionately involved in fatal alcohol-impaired crashes.
Overall Statistics
Fatalities: 12,429 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2023.
Frequency: This averages out to one death every 42 minutes.
Proportion of Total Deaths: These fatalities accounted for approximately 32% of all U.S. traffic deaths in the most recent years available.
Trend: Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities decreased for the second consecutive year in 2023, but there was a substantial increase between 2019 and 2022.
Key Demographic & Risk Factors
Age:
Drivers aged 21 to 24 have the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Gender:
Men were involved in a disproportionately high number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities compared to women.
BAC Levels:
The majority of impaired drivers in fatal crashes have BAC levels significantly higher than the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL.
Context & Contributing Factors
Location:
Most alcohol-impaired crashes occur on urban roads and happen in good weather conditions.
History:
Drivers involved in fatal crashes with alcohol impairment are more likely to have previous DWI convictions.
Underage Drinking:
A significant proportion of teen drivers (ages 15-20) in fatal crashes had detectable levels of alcohol in their system, with a substantial portion at or above the legal limit.
Full-year DUI statistics for 2024 and 2025 aren't published yet. These typically become available later, once traffic safety data systems (like NHTSA’s FARS) complete their annual reports (usually mid-to-late year).
