Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania: Statistics, Risks, and Dangers

Drunk driving is a crime in all 50 states, including Pennsylvania. Yet, despite decades of efforts to curb this reckless behavior, it remains a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes. Too many people still choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, and innocent people pay the price. The true cost of drunk driving is the lives lost, families shattered, and communities impacted—and the numbers may be higher than you realize.

Efforts to Curb Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania ranks relatively low among states for drunk driving fatalities. Montana ranks number one for drunk driving fatalities—in contrast, Pennsylvania has fewer drunk driving issues than most other states. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a major problem in the commonwealth. In fact, nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania still involve alcohol impairment. Meanwhile, the state continues to make efforts to reduce its number of alcohol-related crashes.

The Pennsylvania State Police frequently conduct DUI checkpoints across the state’s roadways. These checkpoints are commonly set up on holidays, such as Independence Day. At these checkpoints, officers stop vehicles and check drivers for signs of intoxication. This effort aims to deter drivers from driving drunk and stop intoxicated drivers before they can cause harm.

Pennsylvania’s ignition interlock system is another effort at curbing drunk driving. This system requires drivers convicted of a DUI to blow into a device that detects alcohol in their breath before starting the ignition. If the device detects alcohol, it prevents the driver from starting the vehicle. The ignition interlock system prevented over 90,000 DUI attempts statewide in 2022.

Even though Pennsylvania has made strides in reducing drunk driving, more work still needs to be done. At Cordisco & Saile LLC, we’re committed to doing our part by increasing awareness of drunk driving’s prevalence, dangers, and seriousness.

How Many Accidents in Pennsylvania Are Caused by Drunk Driving?

On average, more than 9,000 accidents are caused by drunk driving each year in Pennsylvania. That equals roughly 25 alcohol-related crashes each day.

The state’s rate of drunk driving accidents per year dropped by 25 percent between 2013 and 2023, but the yearly number of crashes remains far too high. In 2023 alone, 8,337 crashes in Pennsylvania involved a drunk driver.

How Many People Die from Drunk Driving Per Year in Pennsylvania?

In 2021, 311 people died from drunk driving throughout the state. Alcohol-related crashes were four times more likely to cause death than crashes that did not involve alcohol.

Fatal drunk driving accidents are on the decline in Pennsylvania. There were 363 fatal crashes in 2013 compared to 288 in 2023. This data shows a 21 percent decrease in the number of alcohol-related crashes within a decade, but any number of fatalities is still too many.

The nationwide statistics are particularly staggering. More than 11,000 people died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes throughout the United States in 2020. The majority of the fatalities were among alcohol-impaired drivers, but passengers and non-impaired drivers still comprised 38 percent of the deaths.

Sex Differences in Drunk Driving Statistics

There is a significant disparity between men and women in drunk driving crashes. In 2023, drunk drivers involved in crashes in Pennsylvania were 2.74 times more likely to be male than female. Of all the drunk drivers involved in these collisions, 5,964 were men, and 2,174 were women.

There are a few potential explanations for the sex divide. Men drive more often than women, so they’re naturally at a higher risk of getting into accidents regardless of whether they’re drunk. Men are more likely to drink alcohol than women, and male drinkers consume three times more alcohol than female drinkers on average. Additionally, risk-taking behaviors are more common among men, so they may be more inclined to drive under the influence.

Highlighting the sex differences in drunk driving statistics is not meant to place blame. Instead, it serves to raise awareness of the greater risk men face. Prevention efforts that specifically target men’s risk factors could reduce the total number of drunk driving crashes.

Accidents Involving Underage Drunk Drivers in Pennsylvania

The problem of drunk driving in Pennsylvania crosses all ages, including minors. Pennsylvania’s 1988 underage drinking law sparked a steady decline in underage drinking drivers involved in crashes until 1994. The problem grew again until 2002 and once again improved until 2019. Unfortunately, a growing number of underage drunk drivers have caused traffic crashes in the past few years—513 in 2023 compared to 364 in 2019.

Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for American teenagers, and alcohol contributes to many of these fatalities. Nearly a third of U.S. drivers aged 15 to 20 who died from car accidents in 2022 had alcohol in their systems. One-fourth of young drivers were alcohol-impaired, meaning they had blood alcohol concentrations, or BACs, of 0.08 percent or higher. Nationwide, 411 teens died from drunk driving that year.

Pennsylvania has more severe penalties for underage drunk driver convictions compared to adults 21 years and older. It’s clear, however, that these penalties have not been enough to deter minors from drinking and driving. Prevention starts at home, so be sure to speak with your child about the dangers of drunk driving.

Talking to Your Children About Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is often a habitual behavior that begins early in life. Early intervention from parents can prevent many tragedies, and it starts with addressing the root causes of drunk driving.

Creating an Action Plan

Teens often drink and drive due to peer pressure. Let your teens know that they can say no to their peers. Give them options for getting out of dangerous situations, such as calling you for a ride home if they’ve been drinking. Make it clear that you won’t punish them for being honest about drinking, which can discourage them from asking you for help in the future. Instead, aim to praise their decision to avoid getting behind the wheel.

If you’re concerned about your availability to pick your teen up from a dangerous situation, encourage them to have a rideshare service on their phone. Some universities have dedicated safe-rides programs offering free or low-cost transportation from common drinking venues to student housing. Look through these options with your teen before they go off to school, and devise an action plan together. You can also collaborate with other trusted parents in the community to designate a rotating “on-call” parent for any teen who needs a safe ride home.

Modeling Healthy Habits

Additionally, many teens drive drunk because they’ve seen adults do it. Be a role model for responsible behavior by not drinking and driving yourself. If you’ve been drinking around your kids, show them how you plan for a safe ride home, such as designating a sober driver or using a rideshare service. Tell them why you’re making these choices, and be open to answering their questions about the risks of drunk driving.

The Risks and Dangers of Impaired Driving

It’s easy to take for granted how much brain power goes into safe driving. Alcohol impairs nearly every aspect of driving, from reaction time to depth perception. A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 is four times more likely to cause a car crash than a sober driver. A BAC of .15 increases the risk by 12 times.

Under Pennsylvania law, driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal. However, some critics argue that this limit is not low enough. In 2022, more than 2,300 people died nationwide in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .01 to .07. Even small amounts of alcohol can potentially impair driving abilities.

Getting caught driving under the influence in Pennsylvania can result in financial consequences such as approximately $1,000 more in annual insurance costs, fines of $300 to $10,000, up to $500 in vehicle towing costs, and thousands of dollars in legal fees. Pennsylvania also imposes jail time and license suspensions for repeat DUI convictions.

How Alcohol Affects Driving

The effects of alcohol on driving abilities intensify as BAC increases. The following is a breakdown of how different BAC levels can impact driving abilities:

.02: Reduced visual function and ability to multitask, such as listening to the radio while driving
.05: Steering difficulties, impaired ability to react quickly to sudden changes in road conditions, and trouble tracking moving objects such as other vehicles or pedestrians
.08: Trouble remembering recent events, difficulty concentrating on the road, and impaired ability to control speed
.10: Difficulty staying in the correct lane and trouble activating brakes in time to avoid a collision
.15: Impaired ability to process visual and auditory information and significant trouble controlling the vehicle's direction

How to Protect Yourself Against Drunk Drivers

The risk of getting into a car accident with a drunk driver is unfortunately always present, but you can reduce your risk of severe injury or death by taking a few precautions:

Keep a safe following distance from other vehicles, especially at night when drunk driving is more likely.
Call the police if you notice another vehicle driving erratically.
Drive slowly through intersections and look both ways, even when you have a green light.
If possible, avoid driving during peak drinking hours, particularly late on weekend nights.
Try to stay off the roads during holidays. Crashes of all types, including drunk driving accidents, are nearly 11 percent more likely post-New Year's and pre-Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania.
Use your seatbelt at all times. While a seatbelt won't prevent an accident, it can reduce the severity of your injuries.

Were You Involved in a Crash with a Drunk Driver?

If you were injured in a crash with a drunk driver, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses. While it may seem obvious that the drunk driver is liable for your injuries, their insurance company may try to shift the blame onto you to avoid paying for your expenses.

Working with a Pennsylvania drunk driving accident lawyer is one of the most effective ways to protect your rights after a collision. At Cordisco & Saile, we level the playing field between drunk driving accident victims and powerful insurance companies. We can advocate for your right to maximum compensation by building a strong case for the drunk driver’s negligence.