What age has the most drunk driving accidents? Young adults in their 20s and early 30s are the most likely to drink and drive and to be involved in accidents.
This fact applies both nationally and in Nevada. A Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyer from H&P Law can help hold impaired drivers of any age accountable for the devastation they cause.
Drunk Driving Accidents Are Preventable for Drivers of Any Age
Driving while impaired is illegal in any state. In 49 states, adult drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher can be charged. In Utah, that limit is .05%. Commercial drivers can be charged if they register a BAC of .04%. For drivers under age 21, the limit is even lower. Some states issue charges for any detectable trace of alcohol in these drivers. In others, the limit is .01% or .02%.
Nationally and in Nevada, the drunk driving problem is deadly. Impaired driving is avoidable, and resulting accidents are preventable. Until all drivers refuse to get behind the wheel while under the influence, it’s important for others to know how to report drunk drivers on the road and to hold impaired drivers accountable for the damage they cause. H&P Law can help make that happen.
The Age Group Most Likely to Drink and Drive
In its Impaired Driving Facts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Data shows “1.5% of adults drove after having too much to drink” over a 30-day period in 2020. Their behavior caused an estimated 125 million incidents of alcohol-impaired driving.
Another CDC article, “Risk Factors for Impaired Driving,” cites age as a prominent risk factor for drinking and driving. Young adults in the 21-24-year-old age group had the “highest prevalence of driving after having too much to drink.”
Though people of a particular age have the most drunk driving accidents, drivers of any age know the risks. When they ignore those risks and cause you harm, H&P Law can help you fight back.
Young Adult Drunk Drivers Have the Most Fatal Accidents Nationally
In its Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol Impaired Driving publication, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 11,904 alcohol-related motor-vehicle fatalities in 2024. The number represents 30% of all traffic-related deaths and translates to one alcohol-related death every 44 minutes.
When compared to drivers in other age groups, 28% of the drivers involved in fatal impaired-driving accidents were in the 21-24 age range, representing the highest percentage. The National Safety Council (NSC) provides additional statistics regarding which age group has the most fatal drunk driving accidents in its alcohol-impaired driving information:
- 25-34: 26.6%
- 35-44: 23.1%
- 45-54: 19.4%
- 55-64: 16.4%
- 65-74: 12.3%
- 75+: 7.4%
H&P is ready to help no matter the age of the impaired driver who caused your accident.
Gender and BAC Distribution
The NHTSA also accounted for gender in its study of impaired drivers. Data show 22% of the impaired drivers involved in fatal accidents over a recent year were male, and 16% were female.
Statistics from the NSC include BAC measurements for drivers involved in deadly alcohol-related crashes. Drivers with low BAC levels (under .08%) were involved in 16% of crashes, and those with .15% or higher in approximately half.
Young Adults Have the Most Drunk Driving Accidents in Nevada
The Nevada Traffic Safety Crash Facts show that for a recent five-year period, impaired driving was a factor in 53% of the State’s fatal traffic accidents. There were 735 crashes resulting in 819 deaths. The most recent year of the study had the lowest numbers, though 135 people still died in 120 fatal crashes.
Nevada’s statistics use marginally different age ranges and show a greater percentage of adult drivers in their late 20s and early 30s as the age group having the most drunk driving accidents than those in their early 20s. The State’s statistics divide statistics by age and gender, showing males involved in more accidents by the numbers, but not necessarily by percentage of drivers per gender/age group.
- 21-25: Male 15%; Female 13%
- 26-30: Male 16%; Female 18%
- 31-35: Male 16%; Female 12%
- 36-40: Male 10%; Female 16%
- 41-45: Male 6%; Female 8%
- 46-50: Male 6%; Female 6%
H&P Law can provide the representation you need when pursuing a drunk driving accident claim against any offending driver.
Underage Drunk Drivers
Information on teenagers compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows teens are four times more likely to be involved in an accident than drivers older than 20. Though teens are less likely to drink and drive than adults, when they do, their risk for a crash is higher. Their impairment, coupled with a lack of driving experience, causes this elevation.
The CDC’s “Risk Factors for Teen Drivers” shows that drivers aged 15-20 killed in fatal crashes had been drinking, and 17% of drivers in this age group involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .08% or higher. Talk to the team at H&P Law today.
Impaired Drivers of Any Age Must Be Held Accountable
H&P Law is here to help you fight for justice when a drunk driver hurts you. The criminal justice system may issue penalties, but you also deserve compensation for every loss you have sustained. When you are hit by a drunk driver, we can determine who can be held liable.
Often, your claim is against the drunk driver’s insurance, but other parties may bear fault as well. If the driver doesn’t have insurance, we can work to find other sources of compensation. Though Nevada does not allow victims to hold restaurants, pubs, casinos, or others serving patrons over 21 responsible for damages, you may have grounds to hold alcohol suppliers liable if the impaired driver was a minor.
Drunk Driving Accident Victims Deserve Justice
Though young adults represent the age group that has the most drunk driving accidents, people of all ages drive while impaired. Victims suffer the consequences of these destructive decisions, but are not without recourse.
Connect with us for a free case consultation. A Las Vegas drunk driving lawyer from H&P Law is here to help you discover your options and move toward recovery.
