A records-investigating website recently published a detailed report ranking all 50 US states with regard to the number and severity of drunk driving incidents per capita.
According to the report, released by BackgroundChecks.org, researchers created a weighted formula that took into account number of DUI incidents including:
- The number of deaths directly attributable to DUIs,
- DUI arrests per 100,000 people, and
- Self-reported drunk driving
A weighted formula was then applied to the data that considered the number of drunk driving incidents and the severity of each incident in order to give a final ranking to each state.
Read on to learn more about the findings of this recent report and the specific factors that influenced the rankings.
Drunk Driving Statistics: Looking At The Numbers
The DUI report used multiple sources of data in its rankings including statistics from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
According to the report, New York ranked #1 for being the state with the least DUI-related incidents in relation to the state’s population, while Wyoming ranked #50 for having the most drunk driving incidents per capita.
Meanwhile, New Jersey came in at #4 on the list of states and had the lowest rate of fatalities directly attributable to drunk driving.
Wyoming Ranked #50 For Drunk Driving Incidents In the US
According to the weighted formula, the State of Wyoming ranked as the “worst” state for having the most serious drunk driving incidents per capita in the US in 2015.
Specifically, the report states that there were 56 fatalities directly attributable to DUIs which equates to a rate of 9.56 DUI-related deaths per 100,000 people - the highest rate in the nation.
The research also shows that there were 3,157 DUI arrests in Wyoming equating to a rate of 539 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.
Although the total number of DUI-related fatalities and DUI arrests in Wyoming are relatively lower than most states, the numbers are high when considering the state’s population.
New York Ranked #1 For DUI-related Incidents
The report ranked New York #1 when it comes to drunk driving incidents based on the state’s relatively low rates of DUI-related fatalities and DUI arrests.
According to the data, there were 311 fatalities directly caused by DUIs in the State of New York in 2015. This represents a rate of 1.58 DUI deaths per every 100,000 people in New York which is on the lower end of the spectrum compared to other states in the US.
Although the 28,988 DUI arrests in New York in 2015 is on the higher end of the spectrum, this equates to a rate of 147 DUI arrests per 100,000 people which is one of the lowest rates in the country.
New Jersey Ranked #4 On New Report
New Jersey ranked #4 on the list of states with the least drunk driving and DUI-related problems per capita.
According to the report, there were 111 deaths directly attributable to DUIs in New Jersey in 2015. While any number of DUI-related deaths is too many, New Jersey’s rate of 1.24 DUI-related deaths per 100,000 people was the lowest rate of any state in the nation.
Arrested For DUI In NJ? Call DWI Defense Attorney Evan M. Levow
Thousands of drivers are arrested on DUI charges in New Jersey every year.
Unfortunately, many drivers arrested on DUI charges plead guilty because they are unaware of that legal options exist and don’t know where to turn for help.
At Levow DWI Law, P.C., our DUI defense lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the rights of drivers in the State of New Jersey who have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and/or driving under the influence of controlled substances.
We have helped many drivers successfully pursue legal options, such as challenging the legitimacy of the traffic stop that led to their DUI arrest or challenging the results of chemical tests.
Please contact Levow DWI Law, P.C. today for a free consultation with a member of our experienced legal team to find out more about your legal options after a drunk driving arrest.
