By the Numbers: Drunk Driving Statistics
Drunk driving is an epidemic, with over 17 million people in the U.S. having admitted to drinking and driving. If all those people were moved to form one state, it would be the fifth largest in the U.S. – and those are just the ones who have admitted to it. We’ve pulled some shocking and upsetting drunk driving statistics to show just how bad the problem is.
- Drunk driving costs the U.S. $132 billion per year and each adult in this country almost $500 per year.
- 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.
- An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest.
- On average, one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime.
- Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes.
- In 2012, 10,322 people died in drunk driving crashes, one every 51 minutes.
- Almost every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.
- About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has published a complete list of these and other shocking statistics here.
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It’s time to put an end to the senseless act of drinking and driving. If you find that you’ve had too much to drink, find an alternative ride. Uber has partnered with drinkinganddriving.org to offer a voucher for a free ride worth 20 dollars, just use code DADO.
For more on drunk driving statistic, check out The News Wheel’s drunk driving infographic.
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The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.