Montana Ranks Among Worst States for Drunk Driving

Montana drivers, take note! Our state ranked fourth in the nation for drunk driving risk. While we’re known for our wide-open spaces and scenic highways, those same roads are also home to some of the highest rates of alcohol related crashes and excessive drinking in the country.

What’s Driving the Risk?

The study looked at five key factors: alcohol-impaired fatalities, DUI arrests per 100,000 people, DUI arrests of minors, the percentage of fatal crashes involving a BAC of 0.08 or higher, and overall drinking habits.

Montana scored a risk rating of 50.13%, placing us just behind South Dakota but ahead of Oregon, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

Hard Numbers, Hard Truths

Montana ranked fifth nationally for alcohol-related deaths, with 8.29 deaths per 100,000 licensed drivers. We also had 507 DUI arrests per 100,000 people, showing that law enforcement is active, but the issue runs deep. Combine that with a top-five ranking in excessive drinking, and it’s easy to see why we landed so high on the danger list.

Why It’s a Big Deal

Drunk driving isn’t just a statistic, it’s a serious and ongoing public safety issue that costs lives. According to national data, people are three times more likely to be alcohol-impaired during nighttime fatal crashes. And across the board, men are more likely to drive drunk than women, with 21 to 24 year old being the highest-risk age group.

Montana Isn’t Alone: Here’s Who Else Made the List

South Carolina topped the list as the most dangerous state, followed by Texas and South Dakota. Montana came in right after. Other states in the top 10 include Oregon, Wyoming, North Dakota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Each state had its own blend of concerning stats- some had high fatalities, others high rates of underage DUIs or extreme drinking culture.

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Utah, New Jersey, and West Virginia Ranked Safest

On the other end of the scale, Utah was the safest state for drunk driving, followed by New Jersey and West Virginia. These states had lower rates of alcohol related crashes and less excessive drinking overall, though some still struggled with underage DUI arrests.