Florida’s drunk drivers present a clear and present danger to everyone on the road alongside them. Unfortunately, while awareness of the dangers of drunk driving has increased over the years, Florida still sees the second-highest number of fatal drunk driving accidents per year.
Our Florida DUI accident victim lawyers want to challenge the lack of awareness surrounding the dangers of driving under the influence in hopes that increased knowledge will reduce the risk drivers take when hitting the road in the Sunshine State.
This study goes into detail about drunk driving rates in Florida compared to other Southern states and elaborates on the consequences of drunk driving. We hope that intoxicated driving awareness initiatives will improve the safety of Florida’s roads and reduce the number of grieving families who have to mourn loved ones lost to drunk driving accidents.
How Alcohol Affects Your Ability to Drive
Many people know that excessive use can have a negative impact on a person’s physical health. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption also has an immediate impact on a person’s ability to drive, thanks to its effect on cognitive functions, muscle coordination, and reasoning.
Once the liver metabolizes alcohol, that alcohol enters a drinker’s bloodstream. Medical professionals and police officers can measure a person’s blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, in a person’s system through the use of breathalyzer tests and blood tests. Driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal in all 50 states.
The more you have to drink, the higher your BAC will become. The higher your BAC is, the less safe it is for you to drive. Unfortunately, your gender, weight, and recent meal consumption can also impact your BAC. According to the NHTSA, the less you eat and weigh, the easier it will be for you to raise your BAC.
Distinguishing Between Buzzed Driving and Drunk Driving
Is there a concrete difference between buzzed driving and drunk driving? While the average driver might say so, the reality of the fact is that any consumption of alcohol impairs a person to operate a motor vehicle safely. In other words, buzzed driving is drunk driving. Anyone who drives while “buzzed” can still face legal consequences for violating roadway laws.
Drunk driving victims have the right to report drunk drivers immediately following a crash. If you don’t want to face legal consequences for intoxicated driving, elect a designated driver or arrange alternative transportation home. You won’t get let off easily if you claim you were “just buzzed.”
Rates of Drunk Driving in Florida vs Other Southern States
As of 2022, drunk drivers in the United States killed one person every 39 minutes. Young adults between ages 21 and 24 tended to cause the bulk of these accidents, with young men causing four-in-one collisions. Unfortunately, Florida saw a considerable percentage of fatal drunk driving accidents.
| State | Number of Alcohol-Impaired Fatalities |
| Texas | 1,869 |
| Florida | 940 |
| Georgia | 507 |
| South Carolina | 474 |
| North Carolina | 460 |
| Tennessee | 364 |
| Alabama | 281 |
| Louisiana | 267 |
| Mississippi | 168 |
| Arkansas | 153 |
According to relevant studies, Florida ranks second among the southern states for alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. Texas leads the country for alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, with 2022 seeing 1,869 deaths.
However, Florida’s 940 deaths make it one of the most dangerous states to drive in – and what’s more, its drunk driving numbers vastly outstrip Georgia’s (507) and South Carolina’s (474). The sharp distinction between Florida’s drunk driving fatalities and its neighbors’ marks it as a critical area of concern for roadway safety.
Unfortunately, efforts to curb drunk driving in Florida have not significantly reduced these numbers, suggesting that there’s a pressing need for enhanced preventative measures and awareness programs. Hopefully, increasing awareness about Florida’s shocking number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities will increase the caution with which residents hit the road.
| State | City | Population(2022) | Calculations(per 100k residents) | Deaths |
| Texas | Austin | 964 177 | 59,78 | 59 |
| Florida | Tallahassee | 201731 | 8,47 | 8 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | 500 000 | 23,50 | 23 |
| South Carolina | Columbia | 136 632 | 12,30 | 12 |
| North Carolina | Raleigh | 474 238 | 20,39 | 20 |
| Tennessee | Nashville | 716 000 | 37,23 | 37 |
| Alabama | Montgomery | 201 717 | 11,09 | 11 |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge | 227 000 | 12,49 | 12 |
| Mississippi | Jackson | 143 709 | 8,19 | 8 |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | 202 000 | 10,10 | 10 |
Consequences of Drunk Driving
If you cause a drunk driving accident that injures or kills someone, you have to live with that reality. Moreover, you have to deal with the legal consequences of drunk driving. According to the Addiction Center, those consequences may include the following:
- Jail time
- Significant fines
- Driver’s license suspensions
- Driver’s license revocations
- Vehicle impoundment
- Court-ordered rehabilitation
If you already have drunk driving charges on your criminal record, the state may opt to install an ignition interlocking device (IID) in your car. These devices require you to blow into them before your vehicle starts, ensuring that you can’t hit the road with an elevated BAC.
The legal consequences of drunk driving can permanently disrupt your financial and personal well-being, but it’s the emotional consequences you have to consider. No matter what fines you pay or how much time you spend in jail, you’ll never be free of the fact that your decisions injured or killed another person.
Keeping Florida’s Roads Safe
There’s nothing wrong with having a drink or two while you’re out with your friends. However, you should always have a designated driver. Buzzed driving is drunk driving, and it endangers everyone on the road around you.
Florida legislators want everyone on the road to be as safe as possible. When you do your part to reduce drunk driving statistics in the state, everyone benefits.
If you have questions about drunk driving accidents and your right to take action in their wake, you can request a free case evaluation from our attorneys.
