15 U.S. Counties with the Worst Drunk-Driving Problem [2021 Update]

Despite a variety of efforts aimed at reducing drunk driving, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities has remained relatively consistent over the past decade, especially in the counties with a drunk driving problem.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving accidents in 2018, representing 29 percent of all driving fatalities.

In this article, we dig deep into which counties are the worst counties for drunk driving. Nationwide, it is illegal for drivers to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) exceeding 0.08 g/dL. However, in 2018, 19 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of at least 0.08 and these drivers were often repeated offenders.

Alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal accidents were more likely than other drivers to have previous DWI convictions, speeding convictions, and license suspensions or revocations.

Drunk drivers are not the only ones affected by the decision to drive while impaired. In fact, in 2018, only 61 percent of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities were the drunk drivers themselves.

Instead, 13 percent were passengers in the same vehicle, 15 percent were occupants in other vehicles, and 11 percent were nonoccupants such as pedestrians and cyclists. Roughly 10 percent of these alcohol-related traffic fatalities were children under the age of 14.

While drunk driving is a nationwide problem, some individual states struggle more than others. For example, in Texas, 40 percent of traffic deaths involve an impaired driver; nationally, that number is 29 percent.

Over the past five years, Texas accounted for 13.8 percent of all drunk-driving fatalities in the U.S., despite accounting for only 8.8 percent of the population.

Other states that are known for having high proportions of alcohol-related fatalities include Connecticut and North Dakota, both at 39 percent.

At a more granular level, some individual counties also have significantly above-average alcohol-related traffic fatality rates. To find which U.S. counties have the highest percentage of traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver, our researchers at AutoInsuranceEZ.com analyzed 2014-2018 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Counties were ranked according to the percentage of fatalities between 2014 and 2018 that involved at least one driver having a blood-alcohol level exceeding 0.08 mg/dL, a level that is illegal in all 50 U.S. states. In the event of a tie, the county with the higher per capita rate of alcohol-related fatalities was ranked higher.

To improve relevance, our researchers grouped counties into cohorts based on population: large counties (750,000 or more), midsize counties (350,000-749,999), and small counties (200,000-349,999). Among the 15 large counties with the most drunk-driving deaths, 10 are located in Texas.

Texas is also disproportionately represented among small and midsize counties as well. Here are the counties with the largest share of traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver.

If you live in an area with multiple DUI fatalities, your rates may be higher. However, shopping around can help you find lower rates. If you’re ready to jump in and get a quote, just plug your ZIP code into our online quote comparison tool. It’ll give you the best rates for you and your area.

In addition, you can check out our auto insurance coverage options page to see which coverages you might want in your auto insurance policy. If you live in an area where there are a large number of drunk driving fatal crashes, your rates might increase even though you have nothing to do with those crashes.

In this article, we use numerous drunk driving facts to create our ranking. They include the highest DUI rates by county and general drunk driving statistics. In the frequently asked questions section, we’ll get into drunk driving arrests by state per capita and the worst states for drunk driving.

Now, let’s get started with our list of the counties that have the worst drunk-driving problems.

Large Counties with the Worst Drunk-Driving Problem

#15 – Fairfield County, Connecticut

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 38%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.1 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 99
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 259

#14 – Worcester County, Massachusetts

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 38%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.5 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 104
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 272

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Similar to getting a DUI, if you were convicted of reckless driving, your insurance rates will likely skyrocket. A reckless driving offense can increase insurance costs for many years.

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#13 – Hartford County, Connecticut

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 38%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.64 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 118
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 309

#12 – Fort Bend County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 39%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 1.78 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 70
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 181

#11 – Cuyahoga County, Ohio

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 39%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.23 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 139
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 361

#10 – New Haven County, Connecticut

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 39%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 3.31 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 142
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 361

#9 – Denton County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 40%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.1 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 90
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 225

#8 – Dallas County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 40%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 4.26 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 562
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 1,389

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#7 – Collin County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 42%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 2.07 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 104
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 247

#6 – Bexar County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 42%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 4.03 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 400
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 944

#5 – Tarrant County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 45%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 3.56 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 371
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 821

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RELATED

People tend to think of drunk driving as a nighttime problem, with people going to bars or happy hours, then driving home without sobering up first. But people may also day drink, which puts them and the drivers around them at-risk, especially while traffic is higher overall during the day.

For instance, rush hour fatal crashes due to drunk driving are not unusual, especially in the worst cities for rush hour fatalities.

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#4 – Travis County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 45%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 4.29 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 268
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 598

#3 – Harris County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 46%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 4.1 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 964
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 2,102

#2 – Hidalgo County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 47%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 3.46 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 150
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 318

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#1 – El Paso County, Texas

• Share of total driving fatalities involving a drunk driver: 48%
• Drunk-driving fatality rate: 4.02 per 100k
• Total drunk-driving fatalities (last 5 years): 169
• Total traffic fatalities (last 5 years): 354

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All Counties Ranked by Drunk-Driving Problem

Frequently Asked Questions: Drunk Driving

Now that we’ve covered the 15 worst counties for drunk driving, let’s get to your frequently asked questions. They include:

• What city has the highest DUI rate?
• What’s the most dangerous holiday?
• How many lives are lost to drunk driving?

Scroll down for the answers to those questions and more.

#1 – Which county in the US has the highest DUI fatality rate in the country?

Wondering what county has the highest DUI rate? According to our study of the highest DUI rates by county, El Paso County, Texas, has the highest DUI fatality rate in the country with 48% of traffic deaths involving a drunk driver.

#2 – What city has the highest DUI rate?

Where are the most DUI in America? Cheyenne, Wisconsin, according to one study of the highest DUI rates by city, is the city with the highest DUI rate, with the percentage of drivers with DUIs nearly triple the national average. One interesting note is that, according to FBI statistics, the smaller the population of the city or town, the higher arrest rates for DUIs.

#3 – What state has the highest rate of drunk driving?

According to our calculations of DUI conviction rate by state, which combines FBI DUI arrest data with Census population statistics, the state with the highest rate of drunk driving arrests is North Dakota with 633 DUI arrests per 100,000 residents.

#4 – What’s the most dangerous holiday?

The most dangerous holiday varies from year to year but it is usually one of three holidays: Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. These three holidays incorporate the most traffic deaths, often from drunk driving.

#5 – How many times will a person drive drunk before caught?

On average, a person will drive under the influence 80 times before their first DUI arrest.

#6 – How many lives are lost due to drunk driving?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 10,000 people die in traffic accidents involving a drunk driver every year.

#7 – What is the most dangerous day to drive?

Saturday is consistently the most dangerous day to drive, with more people on the road after the workweek and Saturday night still considered a night to party, which adds to the number of drunk driving traffic deaths.

#8 – How can you spot a drunk driver?

A drunk driver can exhibit numerous signs that they are driving under the influence. These include quick acceleration and braking, drifting in and out of lanes, weaving or zigzagging across roads, almost hitting objects, and more.

#8 – What state is most lenient on DUI?

Leniency can be rated by a number of things, from the maximum fine to jail time. Some of the states with more lenient laws are South Dakota, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.

Methodology: Finding the Worst Counties for Drunk Driving

Fatality statistics were obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 2014-2018. County population statistics were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Only counties with a population of 750,000 or more were considered in the analysis.

Fatalities per 100k residents were calculated as the sum of fatalities for 2014-2018 divided by the sum of the populations for the same years, multiplied by 100,000. Counties were ranked according to the percentage of fatalities that involved at least one driver having a blood-alcohol level exceeding 0.08 mg/dL, a level that is illegal in all 50 U.S. states. In the event of a tie, the county with the higher per capita rate of alcohol-related fatalities was ranked higher.

Aside from the death toll, the economic cost of drunk driving is also substantial. According to the NHTSA, the estimated economic cost of all alcohol-impaired crashes in the United States was $44 billion in 2010 (the most recent data available).

These costs include property damage, medical expenses, legal fees, and more. The NHTSA further estimates that the total value of “societal harm” (such as loss of quality-of-life) from alcohol-related traffic crashes for that same year would be $201.1 billion.

Many states are introducing new laws and technologies to keep drunk drivers off the road.

For example, several states have created zero-tolerance laws for drivers under the age of 21. To cut down on repeat offenses, some states are also using ignition interlocks for drivers who have already been convicted of drunk driving.

Ignition interlocks require drivers to take a breathalyzer test to measure BAC prior to driving a vehicle, and the vehicle will not start if the breathalyzer detects alcohol. According to the CDC, ignition interlocks can reduce repeat offenses for DWI by 70 percent.

Furthermore, 37 states and the District of Columbia have implemented sobriety checkpoints, which are often used on highways during major holiday weekends like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, when drinking is common and the likelihood of drunk driving is greater.

A combination of legislative action to discourage drunk driving, as well as greater public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, suggest that alcohol-related fatality rates could decline in the years ahead.

If you live in an area with a high number of drunk driving deaths, your insurance rates could rise, even if you’ve never been a part of those accidents. Fortunately, there are ways to lower your rates. Enter your ZIP code into our online quote generator to find the best rates for your area based on your demographic information and driving history.