Drunk Driving's Victims: Who Really Pays
Drivers who choose to get behind the wheel impaired make up the majority of alcohol-related crash deaths at 61%, but more than a third of victims never made that choice; they were occupants of other vehicles, passengers, or pedestrians and cyclists caught in the crash. In total, 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2024, accounting for 30% of all U.S. traffic deaths, or one death every 44 minutes.