Montana Tops Nation in Drunk Driving Fatality Rate, Study Finds

Montana has topped the nation in drunk driving fatality rate, with nearly half of its traffic deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers. A new study highlights stark regional contrasts and raises urgent concerns about road safety and enforcement.

• Montana has the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities at 44%, more than double Mississippi’s rate of 20%
• Nearly one-third (31%) of Montana’s traffic fatalities involve severely impaired drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .15+ g/dL
• Southern states have the lowest rates of alcohol-impaired driving deaths, with Mississippi, Georgia, and Kentucky showing the best performance

Montana’s Alarming DUI Fatality Percentage

The study by Premiere Law Group has identified Montana as the state with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. The analysis examined traffic fatality data to identify which regions had the most and least drunk driving deaths.

The data shows that Montana recorded 104 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, representing 44% of the state’s total traffic deaths. Connecticut ranked second with 38% of fatalities involving alcohol-impaired drivers, while Massachusetts and Arizona tied for third at 36%.

“These numbers tell a troubling story about the prevalence of drunk driving in certain states,” said a spokesperson of Premiere Law Group. “Montana’s rate is more than double Mississippi’s, which had the lowest rate at 20%.”

In ranking the states, the study included all fatal crashes reported in FARS for 2021, computed the percentage of those incidents involving at least one driver with BAC ≥ .08 g/dL, and then analyzed the subset involving severely impaired drivers (BAC ≥ .15 g/dL). By comparing these two thresholds side-by-side, the analysis highlights both widespread alcohol impairment and extreme cases where drivers exhibit dangerously high levels of intoxication.

Montana also led the nation in the percentage of traffic deaths involving severely impaired drivers at 31%. This means nearly one in three fatal crashes in Montana involved a driver with blood alcohol levels at least twice the legal limit.

How Other States Compare in Drunk Driving Deaths

The worst states for alcohol-impaired driving deaths were mostly in the Northeast and West. All top five states had at least 35% of their traffic deaths involve alcohol-impaired drivers.

Top 10 states with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities:

• Montana – 44%
• Connecticut – 38%
• Massachusetts – 36%
• Arizona – 36%
• Illinois – 35%
• Maryland – 35%
• California – 32%
• Idaho – 31%
• Louisiana – 31%
• Colorado – 31%

Interestingly, several of the top-ranking states for overall impairment, like Massachusetts and Arizona, also reported significant rates of severe impairment. This pattern suggests that states struggling to curb moderate levels of drunk driving may face even greater challenges addressing extreme intoxication behind the wheel. Lawmakers and safety advocates in these states may consider expanding ignition interlock programs, which require arrested offenders to pass breath tests before operating a vehicle, to reduce repeat offenses and prevent high-BAC drivers from getting back on the road.

The study found a strong link between overall alcohol impairment and severe impairment in fatal crashes. States with high percentages of alcohol-impaired fatalities typically had high percentages of severely impaired drivers as well.

“At twice the legal limit, drivers have severely reduced abilities,” the spokesperson explained. “Their judgment, reaction time, and coordination are all compromised, creating deadly risks on the road.”

One key metric helps identify where extremely drunk drivers cause the most harm. Montana’s high BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) rate of 31% far exceeded other states. For every 100 traffic deaths in Montana, 31 involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 g/dL or higher.

The states with the lowest percentages of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities showed a clear regional pattern. All were predominantly in the South.

States with the lowest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities:

• Mississippi – 20%
• Georgia – 22%
• Kentucky – 24%
• Delaware – 25%
• Indiana – 25%
• Kansas – 26%
• Florida – 27%
• Arkansas – 27%
• Minnesota – 27%
• Hawaii – 29%

Strategies for Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Crashes

While Southern states occupy many of the lowest positions in the impairment rankings, it is important to note that no region is immune. Hawaii, with a rate of 29%, narrowly missed matching the top performers but still fell below the national average. Variations in urbanization, licensing laws, and cultural attitudes toward drinking and driving all contribute to the differences observed. Furthermore, rural roadway characteristics—long stretches without lighting or barriers—may elevate risks when combined with impaired driving.

California had the highest raw number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities at 1,370, followed by Florida with 1,019. These raw numbers don’t reflect the proportion of traffic deaths involving alcohol impairment, which is why the percentage metric gives a clearer picture of where drunk driving is most prevalent.

The contrast between percentage-based and raw numbers underscores the importance of considering both metrics. Populous states like California and Florida record high counts of alcohol-impaired fatalities due to traffic volume, yet their percentages can be moderate compared to smaller states with concentrated issues.

This dual perspective helps allocate resources effectively: larger states may require expanded sobriety checkpoints in metropolitan areas, while smaller states might focus on targeted outreach and local enforcement in regions with the highest rates.

“Strong enforcement coupled with public education campaigns makes a difference,” the spokesperson noted. “Some states have found more effective approaches to reducing these preventable deaths, and others could benefit from adopting similar strategies.”

These findings offer a roadmap for implementing proven countermeasures. States with high impairment rates might intensify enforcement efforts and public education, while lower-rate states could share best practices to further reduce fatalities. Ultimately, reducing drunk driving deaths will demand sustained collaboration among law enforcement, policymakers, community organizations, and individual drivers committed to safety.

ENDS

Methodology: Analysis based on traffic fatality data showing the percentage of deaths involving drivers with different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. States were ranked based on the percentage of fatalities involving drivers with BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher, which is the legal threshold for impaired driving.

Source: FARS 2021 ARF

*Includes fatalities in crashes in which there was no driver (includes motorcycle riders) present.

Notes: Percentages are computed based on unrounded estimates. NHTSA estimates BACs when alcohol test results are unknown.