Wisconsin’s lax treatment of drunken drivers likely plays a role in the state’s top ranking for fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers, given that national studies say 60% of wrong-way drivers in fatal crashes have blood alcohol levels above the legal limit.
“There’s a lot that could be done” to improve the state’s laws and reduce drunken driving, but the Legislature has refused to make many changes, said Frank Harris, state government affairs director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “It’s frustrating.”
>> Read the series: Headed the wrong way
Lawmakers from both parties repeatedly have tried to strengthen the state’s drunken driving laws , but the Legislature has voted against the proposals. The powerful Tavern League of Wisconsin has opposed the proposals, touting its SafeRide Program that offers free rides home to customers.
Wisconsin is the only state where a first drunken driving offense is a civil infraction, not a crime , and can’t land a person in jail. New Jersey also doesn’t classify a first offense as a crime, meaning it doesn’t go on the driver’s criminal record, but penalties there include 30 days in jail.
In Wisconsin, a first offense can lead to a fine of $150 to $300 and revocation of a driver’s license for six to nine months. If the driver injures someone or a person under age 16 is in the vehicle, the first offense becomes a misdemeanor , with possible jail time.
Wisconsin doesn’t allow sobriety checkpoints, which two-thirds of states conduct. The state doesn’t require ignition interlock devices, which make drivers provide a breath sample below a set alcohol limit to start a vehicle, for all first-offense drunken drivers, as nearly two-thirds of states do.
Those are key reasons the state ranks 44th, tied with Massachusetts, in a MADD scorecard of state laws .
Wisconsin requires ignition interlocks for first-time offenders with blood alcohol levels of 0.15% or more , repeat offenders and drivers who refuse to provide a breath or blood sample for testing.
In a separate MADD report card on ignition interlock laws, Wisconsin is one of 26 states with a grade of F . One reason for the state’s low score is its lack of a compliance-based removal policy for the devices, in which repeated attempts to drive impaired extend the period drivers must use them.
In Wisconsin, ignition interlocks stopped inebriated people from driving 357,946 times from 2006 to 2020, including 28,281 times in 2020, second only to Texas and more than California, MADD said. The high number, despite Wisconsin’s smaller population, likely stems from the lack of the threat of extra time with the devices for those who don’t comply, MADD said.
The federal government is taking steps to require new technology in all vehicles that would automatically test a driver’s breath or detect blood alcohol in a person’s finger to prevent impaired people from driving.
Wisconsin is one of four states that aren’t part of the Driver License Compact , in which states agree to treat violations in other states as if they were committed in the drivers’ home states, according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Despite not being in the compact, Wisconsin shares information as if it is, said John DesRivieres, spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office investigates a rollover crash near McFarland in 2022 in which the driver was suspected of drunken driving.
SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Wisconsin is one of seven states not in the Non-Resident Violator Compact, in which states refuse to renew licenses for people who don’t pay fines or appear in court for traffic offenses in other states.
Ian Grossman, CEO of the AAMVA, said it’s important for states to share information to keep poor drivers from endangering others.
“The better we can be at closing those loopholes and sharing accurate information, the better we can do whatever government is able to do to get those drivers off the road,” Grossman said.
States with the most drunk driving fatalities
States with the most drunk driving fatalities
There were an estimated 42,795 fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2022, down by 0.3% from the year prior, according to early estimates released in April 2023 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While a reduction in crash-related deaths, even one as slight as this, is generally positive, the facts remain deeply concerning: Crash-related deaths rose more than 10% in 2021 and more than 7% the year before that, marking a disturbing trend leading into and persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the most recent full year of traffic-death data available, drunken driving fatalities rose by 14% from 2020. Monge and Associates cited data from NHTSA to identify states with the highest rate of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver. States are ranked by drunken driving fatalities per 100,000 residents. This rate is listed up to its first decimal point, but the exact ranking of states was determined from the total rate calculation, which did not result in ties.
A blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher is considered impaired. Judgment and driving abilities continue to worsen as BAC levels increase. Laws adopted between 1982 and 1997 throughout most of the U.S. successfully decreased the proportion of DUI-related motor vehicle fatalities in subsequent years.
Alternative transportation programs have also shown some promise in helping to deter drunken driving. Even in areas lacking robust transit options, recent studies suggest that alternatives such as rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can reduce drunken driving-related collisions .
Keep reading to see what percentage of car crash deaths in your state involved drunken driving.
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#52. Washington DC
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.8 (12, 30% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (9, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 300% increase
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
#51. New Jersey
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (178, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.2 per 100K (114, 64% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.5% increase
Andrew F. Kazmierski // Shutterstock
#50. Hawaii
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 1.9 (28, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.0 per 100K (14, 50% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.4% decrease
Adra Keri // Shutterstock
#49. New York
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.0 (388, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.3 per 100K (249, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.1% increase
Photo Spirit // Shutterstock
#48. Massachusetts
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.1 (150, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.4 per 100K (95, 63.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 16.3% increase
Tony Dunn // Shutterstock
#47. Rhode Island
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.2 (24, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (18, 75% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14.3% decrease
Big Joe // Shutterstock
#46. Minnesota
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.3 (130, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (90, 69.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 14% increase
Steve Skjold // Shutterstock
#45. Utah
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.4 (79, 24% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.6 per 100K (52, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 146.9% increase
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
#44. Pennsylvania
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 2.6 (337, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.7 per 100K (221, 65.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.2% decrease
Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock
#43. Alaska
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.0 (22, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 1.9 per 100K (14, 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 46.7% increase
O.C Ritz // Shutterstock
#42. Connecticut
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.1 (112, 38% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (73, 65.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12% increase
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#41. Maryland
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (195, 35% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.0 per 100K (124, 63.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 19.6% increase
Suraju Kehinde // Shutterstock
#40. Michigan
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (325, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (219, 67.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.5% increase
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
#39. New Hampshire
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (45, 38% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (31, 68.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 40.6% increase
Alizada Studios // Shutterstock
#38. Virginia
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.2 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (187, 66.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 34.4% increase
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
#37. Maine
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (45, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (35, 77.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 10% decrease
Ronald Rampsch // Shutterstock
#36. Nebraska
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (65, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (44, 67.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 11% decrease
Sandra Foyt // Shutterstock
#35. Delaware
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (34, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (21, 61.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.9% decrease
Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock
#34. Wisconsin
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (199, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.1 per 100K (125, 62.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.5% decrease
DavidCarpio // Shutterstock
#33. Washington
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (262, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.3 per 100K (181, 69.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83.2% increase
Ceri Breeze // Shutterstock
#32. Indiana
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.4 (234, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (153, 65.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 1.7% increase
Shadowspeeder // Shutterstock
#31. California
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.5 (1,370, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (880, 64.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 65.3% increase
David A Litman // Shutterstock
#30. Puerto Rico
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (116, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (73, 62.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 6.5% decrease
Christian Ouellet // Shutterstock
#29. Vermont
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (23, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.2 per 100K (14, 60.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.2% decrease
SNEHIT PHOTO // Shutterstock
#28. Georgia
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (391, 22% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (272, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 32.5% increase
New Visions Media // Shutterstock
#27. Illinois
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (461, 35% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (332, 72% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.2% increase
Matt Gush // Shutterstock
#26. West Virginia
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.6 (65, 23% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (47, 72.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 30.9% decrease
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#25. Nevada
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (116, 30% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (80, 69% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase
Trevor Bexon // Shutterstock
#24. Iowa
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (118, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.4 per 100K (78, 66.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 22.9% increase
A_Lesik // Shutterstock
#23. Kansas
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (109, 26% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.6 per 100K (76, 69.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 4.8% increase
barteverett // Shutterstock
#22. Colorado
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.7 (216, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.7 per 100K (158, 73.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 61.2% increase
Paul Gana // Shutterstock
#21. Kentucky
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (190, 24% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.0 per 100K (136, 71.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 12.4% increase
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock
#20. North Dakota
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.2 (33, 33% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (26, 78.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 54.2% decrease
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#19. North Carolina
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.4 (466, 28% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.8 per 100K (300, 64.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 25.3% increase
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#18. Idaho
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (85, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.4 per 100K (65, 76.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 63.5% increase
steve estvanik // Shutterstock
#17. Ohio
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.5 (531, 39% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (373, 70.2% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 36.5% increase
Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock
#16. Florida
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (1,019, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (688, 67.5% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 43.7% increase
YES Market Media // Shutterstock
#15. Missouri
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.7 (290, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.2 per 100K (196, 67.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 2.5% increase
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
#14. Oklahoma
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 4.8 (192, 25% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (139, 72.4% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 8.1% decrease
Gerson Repreza // Shutterstock
#13. Oregon
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (215, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.3 per 100K (142, 66% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 144.3% increase
TFoxFoto // Shutterstock
#12. Tennessee
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.1 (355, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (247, 69.6% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 24.1% increase
Canva
#11. Mississippi
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.3 (155, 20% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (102, 65.8% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.8% decrease
TLF Images // Shutterstock
#10. Alabama
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.6 (281, 29% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.5 per 100K (177, 63% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 17.1% increase
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#9. Arizona
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (421, 36% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (275, 65.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 83% increase
Johnny Coate // Shutterstock
#8. South Dakota
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 5.8 (52, 35% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.8 per 100K (43, 82.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 18.2% increase
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#7. Arkansas
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.1 (185, 27% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 3.8 per 100K (116, 62.7% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 28.5% increase
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
#6. Texas
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.4 (1,906, 42% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (1,301, 68.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 47.8% increase
Moab Republic // Shutterstock
#5. Louisiana
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.5 (299, 31% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 4.4 per 100K (203, 67.9% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 27.2% increase
William A. Morgan // Shutterstock
#4. Wyoming
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 6.6 (38, 34% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.0 per 100K (29, 76.3% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 7.3% decrease
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#3. New Mexico
- Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 7.3 (154, 32% of all car crash fatalities)
- Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 5.2 per 100K (111, 72.1% of all drunken driving fatalities)
- Change in drunken driving fatalities from 2012: 58.8% increase
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
In this Series
Updated
Apr 26, 2024
Updated
Apr 21, 2024
Updated
Apr 23, 2024
4 updates
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!