The holidays are a season for merriment, but unfortunately it’s also one of the most dangerous. Nearly 40% of drivers say they have witnessed friends or family members who appear intoxicated drive home from a holiday party, according to Forbes Advisor. Additionally, more than half of drivers are concerned about getting into an accident when driving on holidays, specifically due to other drivers drinking at holiday parties. Forbes Advisor looked at which states have the highest and lowest rates of drinking and driving. They based their results on metrics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FBI. These are the top 5 worst states and the top 5 best states when it comes to the amount of drunk drivers.Related: Bizarre Alcohol Laws From Around the World
Worst: Montana
Score: 100 out of 100
The state ranked as having the highest rate of drunk drivers. Some of the statistics adding up to put the state in this spot: Almost half of Montana traffic deaths (45%) in 2020 were caused by drunk drivers; the state had the second-highest number of drunk drivers under 21 involved in fatal crashes; it had the 10th highest DUI arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers.
Related: 16 Ways Driving Has Changed in the Last 50 Years
Worst: Wyoming
Score: 93.38 out of 100
Wyoming was the second worst state in the survey. The state had eight drunk drivers involved in a fatal crash for every 100,000 licensed drivers and 6.67 people were killed in a crash involving a drunk driver for every 100,000 state residents. Wyoming had the third-highest DUI arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers.Related: The Best and Worst Cities in America for Driving
Worst: Texas
Score: 90.13 out of 100
Texas came in third place for the worst. The state has the highest number of drunk drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes and slightly more than eight drunk drivers for every 100,000 licensed drivers. One-third of Texas drivers said in a survey that they’ve witnessed friends or family members who appear intoxicated drive home from a holiday party.
Worst: North Dakota
Score: 89.05 out of 100
The state came in fourth place, thanks to the second-highest amount of DUI arrests. When surveyed, 40 percent of North Dakota drivers said they had seen someone drive home from a holiday party intoxicated.
Worst: South Dakota
Score: 83.03 out of 100
Trailing just behind to round out the top five worst is South Dakota, which had the highest DUI arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers at nearly 1,000 drivers. The state tied with Wyoming for highest number of drunk drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes.
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Best: Washington D.C.
Score: 0 out of 100
D.C. is ranked as having the least amount of drunk driving crashes, DUI arrests and people killed in drunk driving accidents in the nation. Fewer than two drunk drivers were involved in fatal crashes for every 100,000 licensed drivers, and there were fewer than two DUI arrests for every 100,000 licensed drivers.
Best: New Jersey
Score: 5.54 out of 100
The Garden State tied with D.C for the fewest people killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. The state had the second lowest amount drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes at 2.04 for for every 100,000 licensed drivers.
Best: Utah
Score: 6.86 out of 100
Utah came in third place as one of the states with the lowest amount of drunk driving. One in five traffic deaths in 2020 were caused by a driver with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit, which is second lowest to the District of Columbia.
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Best: Delaware
Score: 6.98 out of 100
Delaware had the third-lowest DUI arrests per 100,000 licensed drivers. Delaware drivers are third least likely to report seeing someone drive home from a holiday party intoxicated.
Best: New York
Score: 9.99 out of 100
The state had the third lowest number of people killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. New York also ranked fourth lowest for the number of drunk drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Additionally, the state was the least likely to report seeing someone driving home intoxicated from a holiday party.
