Nearly half of Americans admit to drinking & driving

More than 4 in 10 Americans admit to drinking and driving, with 28% reporting doing so in the past six months, according to a survey by ValuePenguin.com. Even more (45%) said they rode with a driver who had been drinking.

Recent analysis from LexisNexis Risk Solutions found driving actually became riskier in 2020, despite fewer motorists on the road. Compared with 2019, drunk driving incidents were elevated at more than two times the ratio of total violations during the past year.

Of those admitting to getting behind the wheel after drinking, 48% said they were pulled over by police, the survey found. Of those that got caught, 93% reported being hit with court fees, fines and higher premiums. On average, a DUI can lift the cost of insurance by 115%, according to the personal finance website.

The survey also found that men are more likely to get behind the wheel after drinking. Nearly a third of male drivers said they could safely operate a motor vehicle after three drinks, which would put most men over the legal limit. Further, the CDC reported having just three drinks can lead to a deterioration of motor skills, including the ability to track moving objects and steer. In comparison, just 14% of women said they could safely drive after three drinks.

The most common reason cited for drinking and driving was traveling a short distance or thinking they were not impaired to the point they could not handle an automobile.

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