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How many Americans die in crashes involving a drunk driver?

NHTSA estimates 11,904 people killed in 2024 in US traffic crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher (its "alcohol-impaired" count), 30.33% of all 39,254 traffic deaths and 3.9% fewer than in 2023; adding crashes where a driver had any alcohol (.01 or higher, "alcohol-involved") gives 13,932, 35.49%.

People killed in crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired"), 2024

11,904

people killed in traffic crashes, 2024

Moderate trust, 63 of 100 Only one source (NHTSA FARS), so it cannot be checked against another.

Each source by year: people killed in traffic crashes
010K20K30K1982199020002010202020242001: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ.2021: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599.2022: NHTSA FARS: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured.2023: NHTSA FARS: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File.

Recorded change in how a source reports; hover or focus the ring for details.

Show the data as a table
YearNHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety Facts
198221,113
198320,051
198419,638
198518,125
198619,554
198718,813
198818,611
198917,521
199017,705
199115,827
199214,049
199313,739
199413,390
199513,478
199613,451
199712,757
199812,546
199912,555
200013,324
200113,290
200213,472
200313,096
200413,099
200513,582
200613,491
200713,041
200811,711
200910,759
201010,136
20119,865
201210,336
201310,084
20149,943
201510,280
201610,967
201710,880
201810,710
201910,196
202011,727
202113,599
202213,458
202312,382
202411,904
What this number counts
Counts
People killed in US traffic crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired")
Where
United States (50 states and the District of Columbia; Puerto Rico is not in the U.S. total)
When
Calendar year 2024 (FARS Annual Report File) (one year, not an average)

The figure from NHTSA FARS, the only source that counts here.

Where the number comes from (1 source)
SourceFigure and yearDefinitionQualityCounts for
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety FactsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Model-based estimateRetrieved 2026-11-02
11,9042024
A fatality counts if the crash involved a motor vehicle on a public road and someone died within 30 days.

"Highest driver BAC" is the highest blood alcohol concentration (g/dL) of any driver or motorcycle rider in the crash, measured where a test result was reported and imputed by NHTSA where it was not. Everyone killed in the crash counts, not only the driver with that BAC. People killed in US traffic crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired"). Line type: model estimate, because this figure depends on BAC. BAC results were known for only 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, and NHTSA imputes the rest. The deaths themselves are an observed count from state records; see the all-traffic-deaths line.

1994-2024: FARS Encyclopedia, Trends, Alcohol, first table (2024 "1st release"). 1982-1993: Traffic Safety Facts 2021 (DOT HS 813 527), Table 13, People Killed, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 1982-2021, report page 39 (PDF page 54). The two publications match in every year 1994-2019; the script checks this. 2024 figures also in Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2024 Data (DOT HS 813 815, June 2026), Table 4: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813815. Coverage: the 50 states and DC, everyone killed in the crash whatever their nationality.

4 of 5 checks
  • Yes: Method and definitions published. NHTSA publishes its definitions, the FARS operations and the imputation method.
  • Yes: Official statistics or peer-reviewed. Official US government statistics from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
  • Yes: Full count or representative sample. A census of fatal traffic crashes in every state, coded from state records. The death count is complete; the BAC split is estimated where tests are missing (see the fifth check).
  • Yes: Raw data downloadable. NHTSA serves the yearly table on the FARS Encyclopedia and says FARS data can be downloaded.
  • No: No known break or quality problem. The split is modelled: BAC results were known for 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, 58% of those killed and 18% of survivors; the rest are imputed. The 2024 file is not yet final.
100%

Better and more direct sources count for more. A source that only copies another does not count.

  • NHTSA FARS100%
How the trust score was worked out
Quality32 / 40

How well the sources are made

Agreement15 / 30

Unknown with one source, so set to half

Independence6 / 20

How many separate ways the number was measured

Freshness10 / 10

How recent the newest data is

How the score works

Who reports it, and since when

Which kinds of source measure this number, which years each one published, and where the reporting stops or has holes.

  • Single source: nothing to check it against
  • NHTSA FARS, 2001: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2021: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2022: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2023: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File. source
Years each source has a figure here
'00'05'10'15'20'24NHTSA FARS

figure no figure here, inside its range no later figure recorded change

Share of all traffic deaths in crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired"), 2024

30.33

% of all US traffic deaths, 2024

Moderate trust, 63 of 100 Only one source (NHTSA FARS), so it cannot be checked against another.

Each source by year: % of all US traffic deaths
02040601982199020002010202020242001: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ.2021: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599.2022: NHTSA FARS: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured.2023: NHTSA FARS: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File.

Recorded change in how a source reports; hover or focus the ring for details.

Show the data as a table
YearNHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety Facts
198248.04
198347.08
198444.37
198541.36
198642.43
198740.55
198839.52
198938.44
199039.7
199138.13
199235.79
199334.22
199432.89
199532.23
199631.98
199730.36
199830.23
199930.1
200031.77
200131.5
200231.33
200330.54
200430.58
200531.22
200631.59
200731.61
200831.29
200931.75
201030.72
201130.37
201230.6
201330.66
201430.37
201528.97
201629.01
201729.03
201829.08
201928.05
202030.06
202131.46
202231.5
202330.18
202430.33
What this number counts
Counts
Share of all US traffic deaths in crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired")
Where
United States (50 states and the District of Columbia; Puerto Rico is not in the U.S. total)
When
Calendar year 2024 (FARS Annual Report File) (one year, not an average)

The figure from NHTSA FARS, the only source that counts here.

Where the number comes from (1 source)
SourceFigure and yearDefinitionQualityCounts for
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety FactsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Model-based estimateRetrieved 2026-11-02
30.332024
A fatality counts if the crash involved a motor vehicle on a public road and someone died within 30 days.

"Highest driver BAC" is the highest blood alcohol concentration (g/dL) of any driver or motorcycle rider in the crash, measured where a test result was reported and imputed by NHTSA where it was not. Everyone killed in the crash counts, not only the driver with that BAC. Share of all US traffic deaths in crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher ("alcohol-impaired"). Line type: model estimate, because this figure depends on BAC. BAC results were known for only 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, and NHTSA imputes the rest. The deaths themselves are an observed count from state records; see the all-traffic-deaths line.

1994-2024: FARS Encyclopedia, Trends, Alcohol, first table (2024 "1st release"). 1982-1993: Traffic Safety Facts 2021 (DOT HS 813 527), Table 13, People Killed, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 1982-2021, report page 39 (PDF page 54). The two publications match in every year 1994-2019; the script checks this. 2024 figures also in Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2024 Data (DOT HS 813 815, June 2026), Table 4: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813815. Coverage: the 50 states and DC, everyone killed in the crash whatever their nationality.

4 of 5 checks
  • Yes: Method and definitions published. NHTSA publishes its definitions, the FARS operations and the imputation method.
  • Yes: Official statistics or peer-reviewed. Official US government statistics from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
  • Yes: Full count or representative sample. A census of fatal traffic crashes in every state, coded from state records. The death count is complete; the BAC split is estimated where tests are missing (see the fifth check).
  • Yes: Raw data downloadable. NHTSA serves the yearly table on the FARS Encyclopedia and says FARS data can be downloaded.
  • No: No known break or quality problem. The split is modelled: BAC results were known for 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, 58% of those killed and 18% of survivors; the rest are imputed. The 2024 file is not yet final.
100%

Better and more direct sources count for more. A source that only copies another does not count.

  • NHTSA FARS100%
How the trust score was worked out
Quality32 / 40

How well the sources are made

Agreement15 / 30

Unknown with one source, so set to half

Independence6 / 20

How many separate ways the number was measured

Freshness10 / 10

How recent the newest data is

How the score works

Who reports it, and since when

Which kinds of source measure this number, which years each one published, and where the reporting stops or has holes.

  • Single source: nothing to check it against
  • NHTSA FARS, 2001: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2021: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2022: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2023: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File. source
Years each source has a figure here
'00'05'10'15'20'24NHTSA FARS

figure no figure here, inside its range no later figure recorded change

People killed in crashes with a driver with any alcohol (BAC .01 or higher, "alcohol-involved"), 2024

13,932

people killed in traffic crashes, 2024

Moderate trust, 63 of 100 Only one source (NHTSA FARS), so it cannot be checked against another.

Each source by year: people killed in traffic crashes
010K20K30K1982199020002010202020242001: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ.2021: NHTSA FARS: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599.2022: NHTSA FARS: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured.2023: NHTSA FARS: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File.

Recorded change in how a source reports; hover or focus the ring for details.

Show the data as a table
YearNHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety Facts
198224,025
198322,639
198422,645
198521,098
198623,041
198722,051
198821,767
198920,314
199020,607
199118,307
199216,401
199316,039
199415,626
199515,893
199615,866
199714,973
199814,899
199914,790
200015,746
200115,731
200215,793
200315,423
200415,311
200515,985
200615,970
200715,534
200813,826
200912,731
201011,906
201111,527
201212,118
201311,918
201411,743
201512,210
201612,951
201712,775
201812,560
201912,029
202013,800
202115,927
202215,846
202314,521
202413,932
What this number counts
Counts
People killed in US traffic crashes with a driver with any alcohol (BAC .01 or higher, "alcohol-involved")
Where
United States (50 states and the District of Columbia; Puerto Rico is not in the U.S. total)
When
Calendar year 2024 (FARS Annual Report File) (one year, not an average)

The figure from NHTSA FARS, the only source that counts here.

Where the number comes from (1 source)
SourceFigure and yearDefinitionQualityCounts for
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety FactsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Model-based estimateRetrieved 2026-11-02
13,9322024
A fatality counts if the crash involved a motor vehicle on a public road and someone died within 30 days.

"Highest driver BAC" is the highest blood alcohol concentration (g/dL) of any driver or motorcycle rider in the crash, measured where a test result was reported and imputed by NHTSA where it was not. Everyone killed in the crash counts, not only the driver with that BAC. People killed in US traffic crashes with a driver with any alcohol (BAC .01 or higher, "alcohol-involved"). Line type: model estimate, because this figure depends on BAC. BAC results were known for only 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, and NHTSA imputes the rest. The deaths themselves are an observed count from state records; see the all-traffic-deaths line.

1994-2024: FARS Encyclopedia, Trends, Alcohol, first table (2024 "1st release"). 1982-1993: Traffic Safety Facts 2021 (DOT HS 813 527), Table 13, People Killed, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 1982-2021, report page 39 (PDF page 54). The two publications match in every year 1994-2019; the script checks this. 2024 figures also in Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2024 Data (DOT HS 813 815, June 2026), Table 4: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813815. Coverage: the 50 states and DC, everyone killed in the crash whatever their nationality.

4 of 5 checks
  • Yes: Method and definitions published. NHTSA publishes its definitions, the FARS operations and the imputation method.
  • Yes: Official statistics or peer-reviewed. Official US government statistics from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
  • Yes: Full count or representative sample. A census of fatal traffic crashes in every state, coded from state records. The death count is complete; the BAC split is estimated where tests are missing (see the fifth check).
  • Yes: Raw data downloadable. NHTSA serves the yearly table on the FARS Encyclopedia and says FARS data can be downloaded.
  • No: No known break or quality problem. The split is modelled: BAC results were known for 36% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2024, 58% of those killed and 18% of survivors; the rest are imputed. The 2024 file is not yet final.
100%

Better and more direct sources count for more. A source that only copies another does not count.

  • NHTSA FARS100%
How the trust score was worked out
Quality32 / 40

How well the sources are made

Agreement15 / 30

Unknown with one source, so set to half

Independence6 / 20

How many separate ways the number was measured

Freshness10 / 10

How recent the newest data is

How the score works

Who reports it, and since when

Which kinds of source measure this number, which years each one published, and where the reporting stops or has holes.

  • Single source: nothing to check it against
  • NHTSA FARS, 2001: NHTSA replaced its three-category statistical model for missing BAC results with multiple imputation from the 2001 data on, and said a historic revision of estimates back to 1982 keeps trends consistent. Figures printed before the change differ. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2021: NHTSA amended the 2021 FARS Final File, which changed alcohol-impaired-driving deaths for 2021 from 13,617 to 13,599. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2022: Motorized bicycles stopped counting as motor vehicles in FARS. Their riders now count as pedalcyclists when a motor vehicle is in the crash; crashes involving only motorized bicycles are no longer captured. source
  • NHTSA FARS, 2023: Each year's first figure comes from the Annual Report File and is replaced by the Final File a year later. The 2023 figure changed from 12,429 in the Annual Report File to 12,382 in the Final File. The 2024 figure is still the Annual Report File. source
Years each source has a figure here
'00'05'10'15'20'24NHTSA FARS

figure no figure here, inside its range no later figure recorded change

People killed in traffic crashes, by highest driver BAC in the crash (number, 1982-2024)

Each line is the source that counts most for that group.

  • BAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)
  • BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)
  • BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)
  • BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)
010K20K30K198219902000201020202024
GroupFigureYearTrust
BAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)25,245202463 Moderate
BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)2,028202463 Moderate
BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)13,932202463 Moderate
BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)11,904202463 Moderate
BAC .15+ (part of BAC .08+)8,097202463 Moderate
Show every year as a table
YearBAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)
198219,7712,91224,02521,113
198319,7872,58822,63920,051
198421,4293,00722,64519,638
198522,5892,97421,09818,125
198622,8963,48723,04119,554
198724,1863,23822,05118,813
198825,1643,15621,76718,611
198925,1522,79320,31417,521
199023,8232,90120,60717,705
199123,0252,48018,30715,827
199222,7262,35216,40114,049
199323,9792,30016,03913,739
199424,9482,23615,62613,390
199525,7682,41615,89313,478
199626,0522,41515,86613,451
199726,9022,21614,97312,757
199826,4772,35314,89912,546
199926,7982,23514,79012,555
200026,0822,42215,74613,324
200126,3342,44115,73113,290
200227,0802,32115,79313,472
200327,3282,32715,42313,096
200427,4132,21215,31113,099
200527,4232,40415,98513,582
200626,6332,47915,97013,491
200725,6112,49415,53413,041
200823,4992,11513,82611,711
200921,0511,97212,73110,759
201021,0051,77111,90610,136
201120,8481,66211,5279,865
201221,5631,78212,11810,336
201320,8651,83411,91810,084
201420,9131,80011,7439,943
201523,1651,93012,21010,280
201624,7621,98412,95110,967
201724,5891,89512,77510,880
201824,1861,85012,56010,710
201924,2511,83412,02910,196
202025,1212,07313,80011,727
202127,2432,32915,92713,599
202226,8012,38815,84613,458
202326,4352,13914,52112,382
202425,2452,02813,93211,904

Share of all US traffic deaths, by highest driver BAC in the crash (%, 1982-2024)

Each line is the source that counts most for that group.

  • BAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)
  • BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)
  • BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)
  • BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)
020406080198219902000201020202024
GroupFigureYearTrust
BAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)64.31202463 Moderate
BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)5.17202463 Moderate
BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)35.49202463 Moderate
BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)30.33202463 Moderate
BAC .15+ (part of BAC .08+)20.63202463 Moderate
Show every year as a table
YearBAC .00 (no driver had alcohol)BAC .01-.07 (below the .08 line)BAC .01+ (alcohol-involved, all alcohol)BAC .08+ (alcohol-impaired)
198244.996.6354.6748.04
198346.466.0853.1647.08
198448.426.7951.1744.37
198551.546.7948.1441.36
198649.687.5749.9942.43
198752.146.9847.5340.55
198853.446.746.2339.52
198955.186.1344.5738.44
199053.426.546.2139.7
199155.475.9744.138.13
199257.95.9941.7935.79
199359.725.7339.9534.22
199461.275.4938.3832.89
199561.625.7838.0132.23
199661.935.7437.7231.98
199764.035.2735.6430.36
199863.85.6735.930.23
199964.245.3635.4530.1
200062.185.7737.5431.77
200162.415.7837.2831.5
200262.975.436.7231.33
200363.735.4335.9630.54
2004645.1635.7430.58
200563.035.5336.7431.22
200662.365.837.3931.59
200762.076.0437.6531.61
200862.795.6536.9531.29
200962.135.8237.5731.75
201063.655.3736.0830.72
201164.195.1235.4930.37
201263.835.2735.8730.6
201363.435.5836.2330.66
201463.875.535.8630.37
201565.285.4434.4128.97
201665.55.2534.2629.01
201765.625.0634.0929.03
201865.665.0234.129.08
201966.715.0433.0928.05
202064.45.3135.3830.06
202163.025.3936.8431.46
202262.735.5937.0931.5
202364.445.2135.430.18
202464.315.1735.4930.33

Who was killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes (number, 2024)

Each line is the source that counts most for that group.

GroupFigureYearTrust
Alcohol-impaired drivers7,247202463 Moderate
Passengers riding with alcohol-impaired drivers1,483202463 Moderate
Occupants of other vehicles1,858202463 Moderate
Nonoccupants (pedestrians, pedalcyclists, other)1,316202463 Moderate
Show every year as a table
Year

All US traffic deaths (number, 1982-2024)

Each line is the source that counts most for that group.

020K40K60K198219902000201020202024
GroupFigureYearTrust
All traffic deaths39,254202463 Moderate
Show every year as a table
YearAll traffic deaths
198243,945
198342,589
198444,257
198543,825
198646,087
198746,390
198847,087
198945,582
199044,599
199141,508
199239,250
199340,150
199440,716
199541,817
199642,065
199742,013
199841,501
199941,717
200041,945
200142,196
200243,005
200342,884
200442,836
200543,510
200642,708
200741,259
200837,423
200933,883
201032,999
201132,479
201233,782
201332,893
201432,744
201535,484
201637,806
201737,473
201836,835
201936,355
202039,007
202143,230
202242,721
202341,025
202439,254

Arrests for driving under the influence reported to the FBI (number, 1985-2025)

Each line is the source that counts most for that group.

0500K1M1.5M2M198519902000201020202025
GroupFigureYearTrust
All reported DUI arrests737,812202563 Moderate
Show every year as a table
YearAll reported DUI arrests
19851,607,405
19861,593,641
19871,534,137
19881,414,306
19891,476,568
19901,596,220
19911,454,232
19921,429,519
19931,282,031
19941,213,552
19951,132,022
19961,130,684
19971,099,157
19981,070,732
19991,074,867
20001,072,302
20011,019,195
20021,123,918
20031,095,212
20041,108,875
20051,102,340
20061,116,733
20071,140,005
20081,193,257
20091,206,155
20101,145,645
20111,076,485
20121,047,132
20131,087,244
2014961,510
2015898,093
2016860,599
2017858,068
2018821,443
2019799,239
2020648,247
2021557,036
2022693,235
2023755,175
2024733,496
2025737,812

About this data

Every source on this page (2)

Who is behind the sources

  • 94% Other government body
  • 6% Police or justice agency
Each publisher, its funding and its own description
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Other government bodyFunding: U.S. federal budget; NHTSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. sourceIn its own words: “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for keeping people safe on America's roadways.” source, retrieved 2026-11-02
  • FBI · Police or justice agencyFunding: U.S. federal budget, through the Department of Justice. The active-shooter reports are produced with the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. sourceIn its own words: “Our mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.” source, retrieved 2026-10-27
  • NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), FARS Encyclopedia and annual Traffic Safety FactsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (other government body) · Model-based estimateUsed for 15 numbers; counts toward 15. Years 2024. Retrieved 2026-11-02.Open one of its 2 pages (each row's sources list its own)
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, national arrests, offense 260 (Drive Under the Influence)FBI (police or justice agency) · Police and justice recordsUsed for 1 number; counts toward 1. Years 2025. Retrieved 2026-11-02.Open the publisher's pageData (API)
Why the numbers differ (5)
  • Crash records count deaths: NHTSA estimates 11,904 people killed in 2024 in crashes with a driver at BAC .08 or higher, from state crash and death records. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • Arrests count police actions: 737,812 reported arrests in 2025 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, whether or not anyone was hurt. Arrests cannot be converted into deaths. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • Self-report is a third kind of number: a survey would count people who say they drove after drinking, whether or not they were stopped or crashed, so it depends on what people admit and how the question is worded. SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health was checked for this and is not on the page because the site refused the download; see Not used.
  • Alcohol-impaired and alcohol-involved are different counts. Alcohol-impaired means a driver at BAC .08 or higher (11,904 deaths in 2024, 30.33%). Alcohol-involved here means a driver at BAC .01 or higher (13,932, 35.49%), which adds 2,028 deaths at BAC .01-.07. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • The BAC split is partly a model. Results were known for 20,083 of 55,620 drivers in fatal crashes in 2024 (36%; 58% of drivers killed, 18% of survivors), down from 49% in 2015. NHTSA imputes the rest from crash, vehicle and person factors, and calls the investigating officer's assessment of alcohol the most important input. Known results range from 8% in Mississippi to 86% in Montana. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
Common mistakes (3)
  • Reading the count as deaths caused by alcohol. NHTSA says the term "does not indicate that a crash or a fatality was caused by alcohol impairment", only that an impaired driver was involved. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • Reading it as drunk drivers who died. Of the 11,904 deaths in 2024, 7,247 were the impaired drivers; 4,657 were their passengers, people in other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • Comparing with older published figures. NHTSA's earlier reports used BAC .10 and a different imputation: for 1982 fatalities at BAC .10+ the old method gave 46% and the new one 49%. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
Context (3)
Sources considered and not used (3)
  • SAMHSA, National Survey on Drug Use and Health (self-reported driving under the influence): samhsa.gov and www.samhsa.gov returned HTTP 403 to a scripted download on 2 November 2026, so no table was read and no value is shown. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • NHTSA FARS microdata and Crash API: crashviewer.nhtsa.dot.gov and www.nhtsa.gov returned HTTP 403 to a scripted request, so the page uses NHTSA's published tables instead of tabulating records. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
  • NHTSA, Multiple Imputation of Missing BAC Values in FARS (Rubin, Schafer and Subramanian, 1998): The file is a scan with no readable text here, so method statements cite DOT HS 809 403 and DOT HS 813 813 instead. (source, retrieved 2026-11-02)
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