Maryland's Drunk Driving Fatalities Compared to Rest of US

How drunk driving fatalities in Maryland compare to the rest of the US

Photo byJohan FunkeonUnsplash

According to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released in April 2023, there were approximately 42,795 fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes in 2022.

This marks a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to the previous year. While any reduction in crash-related deaths is considered positive, concerns persist due to the notable increases in fatalities seen in 2021 (over 10%) and the year before (over 7%). This troubling trend has been observed both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the latest complete year for traffic-death data, there was a 14% increase in drunken driving fatalities compared to 2020.

Monge and Associates referenced data from the NHTSA to highlight states with the highest rates of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver. States were ranked based on drunken driving fatalities per 100,000 residents, with rankings determined by total rate calculations without resulting ties.

A blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is considered impaired, with worsening judgment and driving abilities as BAC levels increase. Laws enacted between 1982 and 1997 across much of the U.S. successfully reduced the proportion of DUI-related motor vehicle fatalities in subsequent years.

Efforts such as alternative transportation programs, including rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, have shown promise in deterring drunken driving. Even in areas with limited transit options, recent studies indicate these alternatives can reduce collisions related to drunken driving.

In Maryland:

• Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (195, comprising 35% of all car crash fatalities)
• Fatalities involving drivers with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (124, accounting for 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
• Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 19.6% increase

For further details on drunk driving statistics in your region, you can see them here.

Your thoughts

What are your thoughts on these findings? It's concerning to see an increase in drunken driving fatalities, despite efforts to curb this dangerous behavior.

Let's discuss ways we can work together to promote safer roads in our communities.