For roughly four decades, the federal government has studied drunk driving crashes. They’ve looked at everything from the sex and age of the driver involved to the location where the crash occurred.
They used the data gathered about impaired driving to help guide them in making policy decisions at federal and state levels. In recent years, nationwide crash levels have dropped, including the rate of drunk driving crashes and fatalities. Unfortunately for those living in Indiana, the Hoosier State is trending in the opposite direction.
Drunk driving crashes have risen in recent years in Indiana
Looking at the change in the number of alcohol-related deaths requires some statistical analysis. Researchers often discuss the likelihood of such crashes based on the portion of the population that it may affect the most.
In 2018, the most recent year with available statistics, 3.2 people died in drunk driving crashes for every 100,000 people across the country. However, 3.4 people in Indiana died in drunk driving crashes for every 100,000 state residents.
If you look at the 10-year change in drunk driving fatalities, the results for Indiana are also concerning. Nationwide, the number of deaths per 100,000 people has gone down by 8.4 deaths within a decade. In Indiana, it has increased by 5.9.
Unfortunately, that means that when you drive in Indiana, you are at higher risk than people in other states of getting into a crash caused by a drunk driver. Recognizing those risks could help you avoid a collision or seek justice if you lose a loved one in a tragic drunk driving wreck.