Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.

This is one death every 50 minutes.

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The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion.

How big is the problem?

  • In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

  • Of the 1,233 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2016, 214 (17%) involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

  • In 2016, more than 1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That’s one percent of the 111 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year

  • Drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes.

  • Marijuana use is increasing and 13% of nighttime, weekend drivers have marijuana in their system.

  • Marijuana users were about 25% more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use, however other factors–such as age and gender–may account for the increased crash risk among marijuana users.

*above info from Center for Disease Control

If You Feel Different, You Drive Different – Drive High, Get a DUI

Drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our nation’s roadways. If drivers are impaired by any substance, including prescription or over-the-counter medications, they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

“Almost everyone knows that driving drunk is dangerous, puts lives at risk, and can get you a DUI – but there isn’t the same awareness for drug-impaired driving,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi King. “At NHTSA, we are working hard to raise awareness among the driving public of the fact that driving impaired by drugs is illegal in every state. We want to encourage people to think twice before driving.”

  • If you are planning to drink, plan ahead for a sober ride home. It’s not okay to drink and drive, even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage. 

  • If you are using any impairing drugs, including marijuana, don’t drive, arrange for a safe ride home. Impaired driving is illegal, regardless of the source of impairment.

  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.

  • Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely