Burning vehicle upside down in the middle of the road after collision.

In your state

States with the most drunk driving fatalities

Written by:

Data work by:

Emma Rubin

August 16, 2023

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This story originally appeared on Monge and Associates and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

States with the most drunk driving fatalities

There were an estimated 42,795 fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2022, down by 0.3% from the year prior, according to early estimates released in April 2023 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While a reduction in crash-related deaths, even one as slight as this, is generally positive, the facts remain deeply concerning: Crash-related deaths rose more than 10% in 2021 and more than 7% the year before that, marking a disturbing trend leading into and persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the most recent full year of traffic-death data available, drunken driving fatalities rose by 14% from 2020. Monge and Associates cited data from NHTSA to identify states with the highest rate of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver. States are ranked by drunken driving fatalities per 100,000 residents. This rate is listed up to its first decimal point, but the exact ranking of states was determined from the total rate calculation, which did not result in ties.

A blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher is considered impaired. Judgment and driving abilities continue to worsen as BAC levels increase. Laws adopted between 1982 and 1997 throughout most of the U.S. successfully decreased the proportion of DUI-related motor vehicle fatalities in subsequent years.

Alternative transportation programs have also shown some promise in helping to deter drunken driving. Even in areas lacking robust transit options, recent studies suggest that alternatives such as rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can reduce drunken driving-related collisions.

Keep reading to see what percentage of car crash deaths in your state involved drunken driving.

Union Station on Columbus Circle with firetruck and EMS on road.

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#52. Washington DC

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.8 (12, 30% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (9, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 300% increase

A wide angle view of the New Jersey Turnpike.

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#51. New Jersey

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (178, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.2 per 100K (114, 64% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.5% increase

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#50. Hawaii

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (28, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.0 per 100K (14, 50% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.4% decrease

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#49. New York

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.0 (388, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (249, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.1% increase

Scene of an accident at night with flashing lights from emergency vehicles.

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#48. Massachusetts

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.1 (150, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.4 per 100K (95, 63.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 16.3% increase

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#47. Rhode Island

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.2 (24, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (18, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.3% decrease

Car damaged in an accident on a city street.

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#46. Minnesota

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.3 (130, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (90, 69.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14% increase

Interstate Highway 15 in Provo with Mount Timpanogos in background.

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#45. Utah

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.4 (79, 24% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (52, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 146.9% increase

Car accident on interstate highway road 83 with fire engine truck.

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#44. Pennsylvania

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.6 (337, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.7 per 100K (221, 65.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.2% decrease

Wrecked car on the side of the road after collision in Alaska.

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#43. Alaska

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.0 (22, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.9 per 100K (14, 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 46.7% increase

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#42. Connecticut

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.1 (112, 38% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (73, 65.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12% increase

Baltimore City seen from the sky by the highway.

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#41. Maryland

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

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#40. Michigan

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (325, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (219, 67.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.5% increase

View along the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountain National Forest.

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#39. New Hampshire

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (45, 38% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (31, 68.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.6% increase

Traffic on interstate highway I-66 in Virginia.

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#38. Virginia

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (187, 66.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 34.4% increase

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#37. Maine

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (45, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (35, 77.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 10% decrease

Interstate 80 highway seen from overlook at Great Platte River Road Archway Monument Museum.

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#36. Nebraska

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (65, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (44, 67.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 11% decrease

Traffic on Kirkwood Highway towards Newark.

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#35. Delaware

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (34, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (21, 61.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.9% decrease

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#34. Wisconsin

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (199, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (125, 62.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.5% decrease

The damaged rear of a car as a result of an accident.

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#33. Washington

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (262, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.3 per 100K (181, 69.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83.2% increase

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#32. Indiana

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (234, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (153, 65.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.7% increase

A wrecked car upside down on top of a parked car.

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#31. California

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.5 (1,370, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (880, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 65.3% increase

Vehicles drive on the highway in Sanjuan.

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#30. Puerto Rico

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (116, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (73, 62.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 6.5% decrease

Scenic highway 89 in Vermont during autumn.

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#29. Vermont

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (23, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (14, 60.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.2% decrease

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#28. Georgia

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (391, 22% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (272, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 32.5% increase

Chicago Police Department officers respond to the scene of an incident.

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#27. Illinois

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (461, 35% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (332, 72% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.2% increase

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#26. West Virginia

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (65, 23% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (47, 72.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 30.9% decrease

A vehicle crash on the side of the freeway including a black jeep as firefighters assess the damage.

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#25. Nevada

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (116, 30% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (80, 69% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase

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#24. Iowa

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (118, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.4 per 100K (78, 66.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 22.9% increase

Highway at the state line in western Kansas.

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#23. Kansas

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (109, 26% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (76, 69.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.8% increase

Rush hour traffic on I-25 looking toward downtown Denver.

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#22. Colorado

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (216, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.7 per 100K (158, 73.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 61.2% increase

A long exposure shot of car headlights at night on the interstate in Louisville.

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#21. Kentucky

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (190, 24% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.0 per 100K (136, 71.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12.4% increase

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#20. North Dakota

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (33, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (26, 78.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 54.2% decrease

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#19. North Carolina

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.4 (466, 28% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.8 per 100K (300, 64.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 25.3% increase

Traffic accident on an icy Idaho mountain highway.

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#18. Idaho

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (85, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.4 per 100K (65, 76.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 63.5% increase

The Ohio Turnpike, Interstate 80, crosses the Cuyahoga Valley south of Cleveland.

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#17. Ohio

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (531, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (373, 70.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase

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#16. Florida

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (1,019, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (688, 67.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.7% increase

Cars and trucks on the highways outside of Kansas City.

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#15. Missouri

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (290, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (196, 67.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.5% increase

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline and highway.

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#14. Oklahoma

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.8 (192, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (139, 72.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.1% decrease

Firefighters extricate victims of a two vehicle t-bone accident.

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#13. Oregon

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (215, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (142, 66% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 144.3% increase

Aerial view of Downtown Chattanooga and a bridge over the Tennessee River.

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Canva

#12. Tennessee

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (355, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (247, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.1% increase

Two motorcycles passing by the Mississippi State welcome sign.

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#11. Mississippi

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.3 (155, 20% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (102, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.8% decrease

Skyline of Birmingham from above Interstate 65.

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#10. Alabama

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.6 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (177, 63% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.1% increase

A severe car crash with a yellow police tape saying, do not cross, in English and Spanish.

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Johnny Coate // Shutterstock

#9. Arizona

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (421, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (275, 65.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83% increase

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#8. South Dakota

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (52, 35% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.8 per 100K (43, 82.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.2% increase

Capital city in Arkansas with exit sign and cars in traffic.

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#7. Arkansas

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.1 (185, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (116, 62.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 28.5% increase

Major traffic accident with multiple cars involved at night.

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Moab Republic // Shutterstock

#6. Texas

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.4 (1,906, 42% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (1,301, 68.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 47.8% increase

Car crashed into parked car on neighborhood street.

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#5. Louisiana

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.5 (299, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (203, 67.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 27.2% increase

Aerial view of Cheyenne at dusk during winter.

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#4. Wyoming

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.6 (38, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.0 per 100K (29, 76.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 7.3% decrease

Car crashed and damaged after accident on a road.

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#3. New Mexico

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 7.3 (154, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.2 per 100K (111, 72.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 58.8% increase

First responders on the scene of a vehicle accident.

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#2. South Carolina

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 7.7 (401, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.4 per 100K (282, 70.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 15.2% increase

Car crash accident scene on a city street.

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#1. Montana

- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 9.4 (104, 44% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 6.7 per 100K (74, 71.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 16.9% increase

Photo selection by Clarese Moller.