WA ranks in top 10 for highest share of summer drunk driving crashes

A new study revealed the U.S. states with the highest share of summer drunk driving crashes, and Washington landed in the top 10.

Manhattan Mental Health Counseling researchers analyzed three years of summer crash data pulled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), revealing where drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher are involved in the highest share of summer crashes.

“Summer can create the perfect conditions for risky decisions behind the wheel,” Steven Buchwald, a mental health expert at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, said. “People are traveling more, staying out later, attending parties, barbecues, weddings, beach days, and concerts, and alcohol is often part of those plans. The danger is that many people still believe they are ‘fine’ to drive after a few drinks, when their reaction time, judgment, and attention may already be impaired.”

More than 1 in 3 summer crashes in WA involved impaired driving

Washington slotted in as the No. 10 state with the highest share of crashes involving a drunk driver, largely comprised of its 35.33% of summer crashes linked to an impaired driver.

Over the three years analyzed in the study, Washington had a total of 600 summer crashes, with 212 of those crashes involving a driver’s BAC higher than .08. The study also found that Washington’s peak fatal crash hour for those impaired drivers occurred between 11 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

“The safest plan is the one made before anyone starts drinking,” Buchwald said. “Decide who is driving, book a rideshare, use public transportation, stay overnight, or arrange for someone sober to pick you up. If there is any doubt at all, do not drive. It is much better to deal with an inconvenience than to live with the consequences of a crash.”

Oregon landed at No. 8 on the list with 36.49% of its 444 summer crashes being linked to impaired drivers over the three-year span. The peak fatal crash hours for drivers in Oregon with a BAC higher than .08 were between 7 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.

Vermont topped the list with 43.55% of its total crashes linked to a drunk driver, though its total number of crashes (62) was the second lowest of the study.

Texas placed second on the list, spearheaded by its 40.82% of summer crashes being linked to drunk drivers. Over the three years, Texas recorded 2,947 total summer crashes, with 1,203 of them involving an impaired driver.

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