Worst states for drunk driving, ranked. (2024)

FAQs

What state has the highest rate of drunk driving? ›

Montana tops the list of worst states for drunk driving, while New Jersey has the lowest rate of drunk driving. Four of the 10 worst states for drunk driving are in the West: Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and New Mexico.

The reason Arizona is ranked number #1 for DUI penalties is that the penalties here are severe. Comparatively to other states, Arizona has longer jail times, stricter penalties, and more severe consequences for all DUI offenders.

The most common cities for drunk driving arrests are Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Columbus, and Milwaukee, where 3 percent of drivers have been arrested for DUIs. Notably, all of these cities are in the Midwest, much like the top four states for DUI arrests.

That dubious honor falls instead to a man named Jerry Zeller. The South Dakota earned the nickname “Mr. DUI” during his lifetime, and he allegedly committed more than 30 DUIs (2).

The States That Drink the Most Alcohol in Ethanol

Naturally, California consumes the most alcohol in raw volume with a whopping 88.6 million gallons drunk in 2021 — nearly 30 million more than runner-up Texas's 58.9 million gallons. Floridians take the bronze, with 55.2 million gallons consumed in 2021.

There is a consensus that Arizona is the toughest state for a first-time DUI. The state is so stringent on first-time offenses that they have implemented programs typically reserved for repeat offenders.

In all states except New York, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, a first-time conviction for driving under the influence is a misdemeanor1 and can result in jail time, significant fines, and the loss of driving privileges. In most states, repeated DUI offenses—typically, beyond a second—are charged as felonies.

Canada is one of the only nations that explicitly restricts entry for individuals with DUI convictions. If you attempt to enter Canada with a DUI, you'll likely be deemed inadmissible for “serious criminality,” meaning you won't be allowed into the country.

Utah. Utah is the only state where the per se BAC limit is not 0.08%; it is 0.05% in Utah. Increased penalties will result from BAC levels of 0.16% or more. Utah has a “not-a-drop” law for drivers under 21, where any detectable amount of alcohol is considered to be intoxicated.

(The statistics are adjusted for population, either as a percentage or a number per 100,000 people.) Madison, Wisconsin, took top honors as the best city for sober life, earning an 83.73 score out of 100 in the survey's methodology.

What is the drunk driving capital of the world? ›

South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries worldwide for road accidents with 25.1 deaths per 100,000 people every year according to the WHO's Global Status report on Road Safety for 2015. A shocking 6 out of every 10 fatalities on the country's roads are caused by alcohol impairment.

The car models with the highest DUI rates include the Dodge Ram 2500, Chevrolet Astro, GMC Suburban, Acura Integra, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford Ranger. Choosing a vehicle associated with lower DUI rates is advisable for safety.

Alcohol use and DUI arrest

Although Bush states that he was not an alcoholic, he has acknowledged that he was "drinking too much". On September 4, 1976, Bush was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The researchers examined DUI convictions and alcohol-related crash data from a sample of 72,368 California men aged 21 to 49. The data suggest Latino and Hispanic men are up to 66% more likely to be convicted of DUI than white men, even when they drive while impaired by alcohol at similar rates.

According to a study by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, South Africa has the highest percentage of drunk driving deaths compared to any other country in the world with an estimated 58% of road fatalities being attributed to alcohol.

Texas is the state with the most car accidents with 4,068 fatal car accidents. California is the second state with the most car accidents with 3,983 fatal car accidents.

Across the United States, the legal limit is . 08%. If your BAC is above this level, you are presumed intoxicated in every state.