Drunk Drivers Involved in Nearly One-Third of All Traffic Deaths: NHTSA

Federal officials are promoting safety tips and guidance to help avoid the 12,000+ drunk-driving deaths that occur each year in the U.S.

In 2023, nearly one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involved drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) above 0.08 grams per decileter, which is the legal limit in 49 out of 50 states.

As a result of these findings, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has once again announced a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign this year, running from August 13 to September 1, to coincide with the Labor Day holiday period, when drunk-driving deaths tend to increase.

Each year, drunk-driving crashes claim more than 12,000 lives, which is about one death every 42 minutes. Over the 2023 Labor Day weekend alone, 511 people were killed in traffic crashes, 36% of which involved a drunk driver, and in 62% of those cases, the driver’s BAC was 0.15 or higher.

In this year’s announcement, NHTSA points out that men aged 18-34 are most likely to be impaired drivers, and evening hours are the deadliest, when the rate of alcohol-impaired fatal crashes are three times higher than during the day.

This year’s message coincides with supplemental campaigns providing additional safety messages, such as the Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which targets motorcyclists, reminding them not to drink and ride. In 2023, 41% of motorcycle riders killed in crashes were alcohol-impaired. 

Additionally, the Drive High, Get a DUI campaign reminds drivers that cannabis and other drugs impair the ability to drive as well and can lead to impaired-driving charges.

“Impaired driving is totally preventable, yet more than 12,000 people are killed each year because someone selfishly decides to drive under the influence. Law enforcement officers nationwide are joining us to help stop impaired drivers and save lives. Make the responsible choice ahead of Labor Day weekend and plan ahead–arrange for a sober ride home. Yours is not the only life at stake.”

-Peter Simshauser, Chief Counsel, NHTSA

Federal safety officials advise planning ahead and never driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. Instead, they suggest designating a sober driver or using a ride service to get home safely. Those who encounter an impaired driver on the road should call 911.

Risks of Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence remains a serious risk, especially during busy holiday travel periods, and it is an area that NHTSA is dedicated to addressing.

A May 2025 study found that more than half of all driver injuries in vehicle accidents may involve drivers under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, opioids or other impairing substances.

In 2024, new data showed that drunk-driving deaths reached a 15-year high during the Christmas holiday season.

Over the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday, more than 300 people were killed in auto accidents, and between 2018 and 2022, at least 833 people died in drunk-driving crashes.

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