Wisconsin has a reputation for being one of America’s drunkest states. But how common is drunk driving in Wisconsin compared to the rest of the United States? 2024 Crash Data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that alcohol-impaired driving continues to play a significant role in fatal crashes both in Wisconsin and nationwide.
How Does Wisconsin Compare to National Drunk Driving Trends?
Drunk driving is responsible for almost one-third of all traffic fatalities nationwide. According to the NHTSA’s 2024 Crash Data, there were 11,904 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver in the US. That equates to one drunk-driving death every 44 minutes.
The real question is: how does Wisconsin fit into this national trend? Of that total 11,904 fatalities, 197 occurred in Wisconsin. When comparing drunk-driving statistics across states, Wisconsin is surprisingly not the top state contributing to alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.
Which States Have the Highest Percentages of Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities?
According to 2024 NHTSA data, the states with the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities among all traffic deaths were:
● Vermont (41%)
● Texas (40%)
● South Carolina (40%)
● Rhode Island (37%)
● Montana (37%)
● Ohio (37%)
By comparison, Wisconsin’s rate was approximately 35%, which is above the national average of 30%, but below several other states. The biggest takeaway from this is that Wisconsin’s reputation for drinking doesn’t automatically translate into having the nation’s worst drunk-driving fatality rate. However, alcohol still plays a role in more than one-third of fatal crashes across the state.
Is Drunk Driving Becoming Less Common in Wisconsin?
While drunk driving continues to be a significant cause of fatal crashes in Wisconsin, recent data shows that Wisconsin has made progress over the past several years.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s 2017 crash data shows that 189 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2017. In 2024, that number fell to 163 people, showing a decrease in around 14% over the last seven years.
While the crash data doesn’t show a single reason for the decline, it likely reflects a combination of factors such as increased public awareness, stronger enforcement laws, and more rideshare options. However, despite significant progress, there is still work to do. Those 163 deaths from drunk driving in 2024 represented more than one-third of all traffic fatalities in Wisconsin. This shows that while Wisconsin has reduced the number of people killed in impaired-driving crashes, it still remains one of the state’s biggest traffic safety challenges.
What Are Wisconsin’s Drunk Driving Laws?
In Wisconsin, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Wisconsin refers to drunk-driving offenses as Operation While Intoxicated (OWI). OWI penalties can include serious fines, license suspension or revocation, and even jail time. However, unlike most states, a first-offense OWI in Wisconsin is treated as a civil violation rather than a crime, although repeat offenses carry increasing penalties.
Even when a driver’s BAC is below the legal limit, alcohol can still impair judgement, reaction time, and coordination. Nationwide, in 2024, there were 2,028 people killed in alcohol-related car crashes where the driver had a BAC of 0.01-0.07 (g/dL). This highlights that a driver doesn’t need to be legally intoxicated to experience alcohol-related impairment that increases crash risk.
How Can Wisconsin Drivers Stay Safe from Drunk Drivers?
While drivers can’t control the behavior of others, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash.
Drivers can reduce this risk by:
● Avoiding driving during late-night and early-morning hours when impaired driving crashes are most common.
● Staying alert for signs of drunk driving including weaving between lanes, braking erratically, or drifting onto the shoulder of the road.
● Planning ahead when alcohol is involved with designated drivers, rideshare services, and public transportation.
Key Takeaways
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the NHTSA 2024 Crash Data show that drunk driving remains a serious traffic safety issue both in Wisconsin and across the United States. While Wisconsin has a big reputation for alcohol consumption and being one of the “drunkest” states in the country, the data shows that it is not one of the top states in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. Even more encouraging, alcohol-impaired driving deaths have declined from 189 in 2017 to 163 in 2024 according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. However, alcohol-impaired driving still accounted for 35% of all fatal crashes in Wisconsin, 5% higher than the national average.
This data makes one thing clear: although Wisconsin has made significant progress, every drunk-driving death is preventable. The safest approach to this is to plan ahead, stay alert, and make smart choices before getting behind the wheel or in the car with someone who has been drinking. Whether it’s a designated driver, rideshare service, or public transportation, these alternatives can save lives. And, as Wisconsinites like to say, make sure to “Drink Wisconsibly.”
Works Cited
“2024 Wisconsin Traffic Crash Facts Wisconsin Department of Transportation.” Wisconsin Department of Transportation, wisconsindot.gov/Documents/safety/education/crash-data/2024-wisconsin-crash-facts.pdf.
“2017 Wisconsin Traffic Crash Facts Wisconsin Department of Transportation” Wisconsin Department of Transportation, https://www.content.dot.wi.gov/content/crashfacts/2017/05-impaired_driving.html
“CrashStats – NHTSA – DOT.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813815
“Drunk Driving | Statistics and Resources | NHTSA.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
Is First-Offense Drunken Driving a Crime in Wisconsin?, https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/02/wisconsin-first-offense-drunken-driving-owi-crime-civil-violation/
Staab, Hannah. “This Interactive Map Ranks Every County in America From Drunkest to Driest.” Vinepair, 30 Apr. 2024, https://vinepair.com/booze-news/map-drunkest-and-driest-counties-america/
Wisconsin Legislature: 346.63(2M), https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/346/X/63/2m