Every hour in the United States, someone dies in a crash involving an impaired driver. Yet the holiday season is especially risky, with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve two of the deadliest days for U.S. drivers. It’s certainly no coincidence that December marks National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
This study will consider which states feature the highest (and lowest) number of fatalities and arrests due to impaired driving, who’s most at risk, which drugs are involved (and why it’s not all about alcohol), the most dangerous times to drive, gender disparities, and how the December holiday season compounds road peril.
First, let’s consider how many impaired drivers frequent American roads, with some key data suggesting that the problem is far worse than baseline statistics suggest.
Impaired Drivers in America: The Key Statistics
14,000 Americans lose their lives to impaired driving every year. Beyond the staggering mortal toll, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the annual estimated cost of crash deaths due to drunk drivers was $123.3 billion in 2020 (the figure includes associated medical costs). There are also a million annual driver arrests due to impairment from alcohol and/or drugs. Study data suggests these arrests represent no more than a fraction of the real number of impaired drivers on U.S. roads.
According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a more accurate estimate of impaired driver numbers looks like this (by drug type).
- 18.5 million for alcohol (7.2% of the 16+ population)
- 11.7 million for marijuana (4.5% of the 16+ population)
- 2.4 million for other illicit drugs (0.9% of the 16+ population)
Repeat offenders are a significant factor. National Safety Council data confirms that a driver subject to a prior impairment offense is 4.1 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver with a clean record. Also, the chances of being involved in a fatal crash continually increase following each additional impaired driving conviction, with the average inebriated driver having driven drunk 80 times before their first arrest.
In 2023, 57,939 drunk drivers (and motorcyclists) were involved in fatal crashes. Here’s a breakdown of those figures by state, so we can consider the highest and lowest fatality numbers across the U.S. The first list features the states with the highest number of drunk driving fatalities.
The top three drunk driver fatality states on the list are also the three most populous states in the U.S., suggesting a consistent representative spread in those cases. Put simply, high traffic volume equals high crash fatality numbers.
Georgia is in fourth spot, despite being only the eighth most populous state in the country. In Georgia’s case, rapid urbanization – and subsequent increased congestion – are significant factors in its high numbers.
States with the Most DUI Driver Fatalities
| State | Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
|---|---|
| Texas | 6,121 |
| California | 5,564 |
| Florida | 5,027 |
| Georgia | 2,261 |
| North Carolina | 2,211 |
| Arizona | 1,943 |
| Tennessee | 1,908 |
| Illinois | 1,814 |
| Ohio | 1,799 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,717 |
Conversely, here are the states with the fewest drunk drivers (and motorcyclists) involved in fatal crashes. The low District of Columbia, Alaska, Rhode Island, and Vermont rates can be attributed to comparatively low numbers of drivers on the road, plus intensified, highly effective enforcement and education campaigns.
States with the least DUI Driver Fatalities
| State | Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 56 |
| Alaska | 87 |
| Rhode Island | 89 |
| Vermont | 90 |
| Hawaii | 117 |
| North Dakota | 144 |
| Maine | 171 |
| Wyoming | 177 |
| New Hampshire | 189 |
| South Dakota | 191 |
Impaired Driving: Arrest Figures
According to FBI statistics, during 2025 (up to November 15), there were 533,737 arrests for impaired driving; between November 2023 and November 2025, that number was 1,388,867. In 75% of cases, men were arrested, with women taking a 25% share.
In terms of race and ethnicity, 75% of drivers arrested were White, 16% Black, 2% Asian, and 2% American Indian. In 4% of cases, the arrested driver is listed as ‘unknown’.
When we focus on arrests as opposed to fatalities, state rankings – which might reasonably be expected to align closely with fatality numbers rankings – reveal some clear inconsistencies. Firstly, Florida (third on the impaired fatalities list) is notably absent from the top ten list of states featuring the most impaired driving arrests, while California and Texas rank first and second.
And figures from states such as Minnesota, Washington, and Arizona exceed what we might reasonably expect from their respective population counts. This clearly indicates any combination of the following factors.
- Comparatively high impairment rates
- Comparatively strong enforcement presence/measures
- More proactive policing practices.
From a Georgia perspective, there’s a marked disparity between its inflated ranking (fourth) in the fatalities list and a comparatively lowly place (tenth) on the impaired driving arrest list, indicating a mismatch between offending and enforcement.
During the aforementioned two-year window (Nov 2023 to Nov 2025), the following states posted the highest drunk driving tallies.
10 States With the Highest Number of Drunk Driving Arrests (Nov 2023 to Nov 2025)
| State | DUI Arrests |
|---|---|
| California | 189,743 |
| Texas | 119,917 |
| Pennsylvania | 66,379 |
| Ohio | 49,553 |
| Washington | 45,699 |
| Minnesota | 43,915 |
| Arizona | 42,382 |
| Tennessee | 40,359 |
| Michigan | 39,702 |
| Georgia | 36,801 |
In alignment with the list of the lowest number of drunk driving fatalities, the District of Columbia, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Alaska confirm low arrest numbers. A key anomaly on the list is Delaware, the presence of which in first place is largely due to a number of factors.
One is ignition interlock devices, which check a driver’s breath for alcohol and prevent the driver from starting their car if alcohol is detected. All Delaware drivers must install these devices on their vehicles after a first drunk driving offense. Delaware also features significant pre-emptive enforcement and has recently reintroduced ‘sobriety checkpoints’ to further deter drunk driving.
10 States With Lowest Number of Drunk Driving Arrests (Nov 2023 to Nov 2025)
| State | DUI Arrests |
|---|---|
| Delaware | 511 |
| District of Columbia | 934 |
| Vermont | 4,288 |
| Rhode Island | 4,798 |
| Alaska | 5,363 |
| Hawaii | 5,450 |
| West Virginia | 5,625 |
| Wyoming | 5,685 |
| Louisiana | 6,969 |
| Maine | 7,515 |
With the Christmas holiday season fast approaching, it’s well worth considering the fact that weekends and seasonal holidays represent the danger period for U.S. drivers, with December consistently posting elevated DUI arrest and fatality figures. But some drivers are more at risk than others.
The age groups most at risk or culpable of impaired driving during December
NHTSA data tells us that, in the U.S. in December 2024, 3165 people died during car accidents. (A key comparative number that highlights the December danger factor is the 2,675 who died during car accidents during the following month, January 2025.)
Although all age ranges were vulnerable, 65-74+ and 25-34 year-olds were particularly susceptible to fatal crashes. (Over-65 fatality numbers are largely due to bodily vulnerability during crashes and diminishing reaction times due to aging.)
December 2024 Car Crash Fatalities Share
| Age | Share |
|---|---|
| 15–24 | 15% |
| 25–34 | 18% |
| 35–44 | 15% |
| 45–54 | 12% |
| 55–64 | 14% |
| 65–74+ | 23% |
If we specifically focus on alcohol impaired driver ages during 2023, we see both 65+ numbers significantly diminish, and numbers for younger drivers – particularly those between the ages of 21 and 44 – significantly rise.
Alcohol-Impaired Drivers by Age (2023)
| Age | Share |
|---|---|
| 15–20 | 20% |
| 21–24 | 28% |
| 25–34 | 26% |
| 35–44 | 23% |
| 45–54 | 19% |
| 55–64 | 16% |
| 65–74 | 12% |
| 75+ | 8% |
Of the drunk drivers killed in accidents during Christmas 2023, those aged between 25 and 34 perished in far greater numbers than any other age range.
Total Number of Christmas Fatalities by Driver Age in 2023
| Age | 2023 Number of Christmas Fatalities |
|---|---|
| 15–20 | 10 |
| 21–24 | 10 |
| 25–34 | 21 |
| 35–44 | 10 |
| 45–54 | 8 |
| 55–64 | 3 |
| 65–74 | 5 |
| 75+ | 0 |
During the December months between 2019 and 2023, 4,931 people were killed due to drunk driving, 1,038 people in December 2023 alone.
ght and 2:59 a.m. were drunk at the wheel, with men involved in a significantly higher rate (22%) of drunk driving crashes than women (18%). (Though NHTSA figures suggest male (8%) and female (10%) fatality numbers are comparatively down so far during 2025.)
And while impaired driving crashes may heavily feature alcohol, other drugs are often involved, with a combination of alcohol and drugs compounding driver, passenger and pedestrian danger.
Other Types of Impairment: Multiple Substance Danger
A study of seven trauma centers between September 2019 and July 2021 regarding 4,243 drivers seriously injured in car crashes found that 54% tested positive for alcohol and/or drugs.
The full breakdown of positive driver tests looked like this.
- 22% tested positive for alcohol
- 25% tested positive for marijuana
- 9% tested positive for opioids
- 10% tested positive for stimulants
- 8% tested positive for sedatives.
Additional fatal crash data from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving noted that 75% of drivers who tested positive for cannabis were also under the influence of various other substances at the time of a crash.
And the matter of impaired driving factors is further complicated by Washington State University data covering the use of multiple substances during fatal crashes (2008 to 2016). According to the following statistical breakdown, it’s clear that drivers impaired by multiple drugs represent the biggest risk factor.
- 44% Poly-Drug (any combination of drug types)
- 38% Alcohol Only
- 12% One Drug Only (not Alcohol or THC)
- 6% THC Only.
Marijuana: A Growing Driving Impairment Issue
Marijuana use by drivers is a growing issue, with 11.7 million U.S. drivers self-reporting driving after using marijuana. As shown in the trauma-center crash study, 25% of severely injured drivers tested positive for marijuana, a rate that exceeded impaired driving injuries due to alcohol.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data support the notion that legalized cannabis is a huge contributory factor. For example, since the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2013, Colorado traffic deaths involving drivers testing positive for cannabis increased by 138%, with traffic deaths in the state increasing by 29%.
Wide access to cannabis in states that have legalized the drug was also cited as a key factor in a comparative 6% overall crash increase in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington (compared with other Western states).
In 2007, survey results revealed that 8.6 percent of weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for marijuana. Yet the results of a similar survey from 2013-2014 discovered that 12.6 percent of weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for marijuana: a shocking 48% increase in under 10 years.
Also worrying is the fact that, of those canvassed as part of a 2023 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey, only 70% believe it’s dangerous to drive within an hour of consuming cannabis.
Some respondents even suggested the drug improves their driving. This misperception extends to all prescription drugs, many of which are potentially highly dangerous, particularly in combination. While 94% of drivers accept that driving after drinking alcohol is highly dangerous, only 78% of drivers feel the same way about driving after using prescription drugs.
This is potentially a huge issue, with 10% of regular weekday/daytime drivers testing positive for prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs, and any such drug capable of worsening driving performance.
Drowsy Driving and Fatigue
In a significant number of cases, alcohol and drugs can turn impairment into drowsy and even sleep-disturbed driving. But even without added drugs or alcohol, tired drivers already represent a significant road threat.
According to the CDC, 1 in 25 adults has fallen asleep while driving. Although that’s a shocking figure, any tired driving state can be extremely dangerous. Study data suggests that driving after more than 20 hours without sleep is equivalent to driving with a blood-alcohol concentration level right at the legal U.S. limit of 0.08%.
Some exhausted drivers may experience ‘micro-sleep’ – short, involuntary periods of inattention. At highway speeds, this 4 or 5-second gap occurs over the length of a football field, which can easily result in a serious crash.
Further data from the AAA Foundation suggests that sleepy driving is a factor in 21% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes, and 13% of motor vehicle crashes that result in hospitalizations. Combined, sleepiness on the road leads to over 300,000 police-reported crashes, over 100,000 injuries, and up to 6,400 deaths in the United States every year.
Driving Over The Holidays, and Beyond
The two primary danger periods on U.S. roads are weekends and holidays, with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve among the deadliest driving days. That’s due to far more than driving while drunk, with myriad alternate drugs, including opioids, marijuana, stimulants, sedatives, and even over-the-counter medicines, all significant contributors.
And when we consider road danger at any time of the year, though particularly December holiday season, drugs of all types can exacerbate fatigue and significantly compound risk.
Regarding the alcohol threat, tighter legal limits would save thousands of lives every year. This is especially true of 21-24 year-olds, the demographic most likely to drive after drinking, with men far more likely to be drunk when crashing their car.
Of 1.38 million DUI arrests made between Nov 2023 and Nov 2025, 75% were male, a proportion that has remained stable over a prolonged period, signaling a deep-seated cultural problem.
Although the legal alcohol limit for drivers is a BAC of .08 g/dL, the National Transportation Safety Board states that “driving-related performance is degraded at BAC levels as low as 0.01.” It’s a simple fact: any amount of alcohol introduces driver danger.
The one national exception to the .08 g/dL legal alcohol limit for drivers is Utah, with a limit of .05 g/dL. If all states made the adjustment to .05 g/dL, an estimated 1,790 lives would be saved each year.
Only 70% of drivers believe it’s dangerous to drive within an hour of consuming cannabis. Some respondents even suggested the drug improves their driving
Ultimately, for lives to be saved, the perception around drugs and alcohol needs to significantly shift. Driving under the influence of any drug is dangerous; driving following the consumption of multiple drugs vastly increases the danger factor. And tired drivers getting behind the wheel after taking any drug is a recipe for disaster.
And it’s not simply a matter of impairment or tiredness: drivers who do so after drinking alcohol are less vigilant about using their seatbelt. Additionally, four times more drivers with prior DWI convictions are involved in fatal crashes.
Tighter restrictions around impaired driving, bigger deterrents for getting behind the wheel after taking any drug or combination of drugs, and changing perception around the implicit severity of danger regarding all substances are key.
Until any of these factors evolve and improve, the roads over Christmas and the New Year will continue to see elevated crash and fatality rates. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Atlanta and weren’t at fault, you might wonder if it’s time to take action.
Lawyers at Bader Law can help you file a claim and negotiate directly with insurers to pursue a fair settlement on your behalf.
