Drunk Driving Statistics in Texas

Michael S. Callahan | | Car Accident
drunk driving statistics

Drunk driving is one of the most significant public safety threats in the state of Texas. There were 13,524 U.S. drunk driving deaths in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”). Sadly, 1,162 of those people killed in drunk driving crashes were killed in Texas.

Since drunk driving is so common in car injury crashes, it is important to understand people who are injured or killed in drunk driving accidents and their families may be entitled to compensation under the law for the injuries caused by the drunk driver. Our drunk driving accident lawyers at the Callahan Law Firm are experienced in these cases and are here to help you get the full justice you deserve under the law.

Drunk Driving: An Overview

Alcohol begins to impair your thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination after just one drink. Recognizing the danger drunk driving poses to other people, Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration (“BAC”) over 0.08.

However, alcohol’s impairing effects on a driver can be seen at lower BACs than 0.08. The NHTSA reports the following effects on driving at specific BACs:

  1. At .02, drivers experience a decline in visual function and the ability to multitask;
  2. At .05, a driver will suffer from reduced coordination, a reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, and a reduced response to emergency driving situations;
  3. At .08, a driver will struggle to concentrate, struggle with short-term memory loss, have a reduced ability to process information, and will have an impaired perception of the road;
  4. At .10, a driver will have a reduced ability to maintain his lane position or brake appropriately and
  5. At .15, drivers will experience substantial impairments in their abilities to control their cars, pay attention to the road, and process visual and auditory information.

Drunk Driving Statistics in Texas: The Latest

DUI fatalities increased in 2020 for the first time since 2018. There was a 2% increase in yearly DUI deaths in Texas from 2021 to 2022, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Sadly, these numbers amount to three people dying due to drunk driving in Texas every day.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 26% of all traffic deaths in Texas in 2022 involved a drunk driver. While this is below the ten-year average of 37% from 2012-2021, these numbers still rank Texas as the third-worst state in the country for drunk driving.

Houston has a particular problem with DWI deaths. As of July 3, 2024, there have been 31 deaths caused by DWI-related crashes on Houston roads in the last year, according to the Houston Police Department.

Teenage Drunk Driving Statistics

Teenage driving under the influence statistics show that teen drivers are less likely to drink and drive than adult drivers, but they crash at substantially higher rates than their adult counterparts when they do drink and drive. In 2021, 22% of drivers ages 15-20 years old involved in fatal crashes had BACs of .08.

In 2021, 23% of high school students reported drinking alcohol at least once in the last month, and 17% of them reported riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol at least once during the past month. This matters because teens who drink underage or ride with drivers who are impaired are more likely to drive impaired themselves.

Texas DWI laws account for the age of the driver. It is illegal for any person under 21 to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. The penalties are harsher on underage drivers who are pulled over while intoxicated: they face increased fines and longer jail sentences.

Consequences of Drunk Driving in Texas

Texas law sets forth severe penalties for drunk and impaired driving:

  1. People convicted of their first DWI offense face up to a $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail upon conviction with three mandatory days, and loss of their driver’s licenses for up to a year.
  2. Upon a second conviction, drunk drivers face up to a $4,000 fine, between one and twelve months in jail, and loss of their driver’s license for up to two years.
  3. After a third conviction, drunk drivers face a $10,000 fine, two to ten years in prison, and the loss of their driver’s license for up to two years.

The abovementioned fines do not include the state fines assessed on drunk drivers upon sentencing. Drunk drivers who choose to drive with a child under the age of fifteen will face an additional fine of up to $10,000, a sentence of up to two additional years in jail, and an additional 180 days without their driver’s license.

The Texas Department of Transportation has implemented the “Drive Sober. No Regrets.” campaign to address and prevent drunk driving in the state. Locally, Harris County officials are cracking down on drunk and impaired driving by conducting “no refusal” enforcement.

Prevention and Responsible Behavior

Despite the horrific toll it takes on Texas motorists, drunk and impaired driving is a completely preventable crime. You can take actions to prevent drunk and impaired driving like the following:

  1. Get a ride from a ride-sharing service such as Uber, Lyft, or a taxi.
  2. Choose someone to be the designated driver when you go out with your friends.
  3. Hosting safe events that do not require intoxicated people to drive home.
  4. Report people suspected of driving drunk or impaired to law enforcement.

Parents can take an active role to prevent their teens from driving drunk or impaired by:

  1. Having honest conversations with teens about the unsafe scenarios that drinking underage can present.
  2. Teaching children never to drive while drunk or impaired and to never get in the car with a drunk or impaired driver.
  3. Developing household rules that tell teens that they can call their parents for a ride home instead of riding with a drunk or impaired driver.
  4. Being a good role model by never driving while drunk or impaired.

Drunk and Impaired Driving Permanently Changes People Harmed & Families

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (“MADD”), drunk and impaired driving kills or injures someone in America every 79 seconds—all of which are completely preventable. Accidents caused by drunk and impaired driving can cause severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, or lost limbs. In the worst cases, people harmed by drunk and impaired drivers do not return home to their loved ones.

Call the Callahan Law Firm for Your Consultation

Drunk driving is a completely preventable crime that permanently alters the lives of people affected by it. People harmed by drunk drivers can be severely injured or even killed, and there are legal consequences for drunk drivers. For those harmed by drunk drivers, they must contact experienced attorneys for a consultation about their rights under the law.

At The Callahan Law Firm, our attorneys are experienced in handling drunk and impaired driving injury cases. Our attorneys will consult with you about your legal rights and options, helping you receive the justice you deserve under the law. The Callahan Law Firm is here to help you during these difficult times.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash caused by a drunk driver, then contact the attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm either by calling us or by scheduling your case review using our online contact form. These consultations are free, so there is no reason to delay.