Drunk Driving Related Deaths and Injuries in the U.S. and Arizona

There can be serious injuries and devastating consequences caused by drunk drivers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes, that involve a driver impaired by alcohol.

In 2013 there were approximately 10,000 fatalities in alcohol impaired crashes, this was approximately one third of all U.S. traffic deaths. The same year, there were 290,000 injured in drunk driving crashes.

Out of 200 children passengers, ages 14 and younger, who died in alcohol related crashes in 2013, 17% involved alcohol related drivers.

MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, reports that every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash, the rate of drunk driving is highest amount 21 to 25 year olds (23.4%), males are more likely than females to drive drunk.

In Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation reports in its’ 2014 Arizona Crash Facts Summary that there were almost 5,000 alcohol related crashes, with 238 fatalities, and over 2,000 crashes with injuries. Maricopa County had the highest number of alcohol related crashes, fatalities and injuries, among Arizona counties.