South Carolina ranked 2nd in nation for most drunk driving accidents in latest study
South Carolina comes in second for the most drunk driving accidents in the nation.
According to SafeWise, the Palmetto state falls second behind Wyoming.
The state had a rate of more than six deaths for every 10,000 people.
Eighty percent of the worst states have no minimum jail time for first-time DUI offenders. South Carolina is the outlier, with two days for a first offense.
Keep conclusions from the most dangerous states
- 80% of the most dangerous states were also in the top five in 2016—Wyoming is the only newcomer, replacing Montana as the state with the most impaired driving deaths per capita.
- Montana went from the state with the most dangerous roads (9.58 drunk driving deaths per 100,000 people in 2016) to number 27, with 5.33 deaths per 100,000.
- Wyoming climbed from eighth place (5.98 deaths/100,000) to the worst state for impaired driving fatalities, topping the list with 7.59 deaths per capita in 2017.
- Every state in the five worst (except Wyoming) decreased its rate of drunk driving deaths year over year in 2017.
- 80% of the worst states have no minimum jail time for first-time DUI offenders. South Carolina is the outlier with two days for a first offense.³
- The majority of US states require mandatory alcohol abuse assessment or treatment after a DUI conviction, but neither is required in four out of the five worst states for drunk driving deaths.⁴
- Among the five states with the most drunk driving deaths, the average minimum fine for the first DUI conviction is $300, compared to $524 among the five states with the fewest drunk driving deaths.⁵’
Complete Rankings – Most Dangerous to Least (Deaths Per 100,000 People)
Rank | State | Deaths per Capita |
#1 | Wyoming | 7.60 |
#2 | South Carolina | 6.23 |
#3 | North Dakota | 6.09 |
#4 | New Mexico | 5.75 |
#5 | Alabama | 5.50 |
#6 | Montana | 5.33 |
#7 | Texas | 5.19 |
#8 | Mississippi | 4.96 |
#9 | Arkansas | 4.66 |
#10 | Louisiana | 4.53 |
#11 | Oklahoma | 4.20 |
#12 | Missouri | 4.15 |
#13 | Kentucky | 4.06 |
#14 | South Dakota | 4.02 |
#15 | North Carolina | 4.02 |
#16 | Florida | 4.00 |
#17 | West Virginia | 3.97 |
#18 | Arizona | 3.96 |
#19 | Maine | 3.74 |
#20 | Tennessee | 3.74 |
#21 | Georgia | 3.51 |
#22 | Kansas | 3.50 |
#23 | Idaho | 3.49 |
#24 | Nebraska | 3.49 |
#25 | Connecticut | 3.34 |
#26 | Delaware | 3.33 |
#27 | Oregon | 3.31 |
#28 | Indiana | 3.30 |
#29 | Wisconsin | 3.28 |
#30 | Rhode Island | 3.21 |
#31 | Colorado | 3.16 |
#32 | Michigan | 3.12 |
#33 | Maryland | 3.07 |
#34 | Alaska | 2.97 |
#35 | Nevada | 2.97 |
#36 | Hawaii | 2.94 |
#37 | Virginia | 2.90 |
#38 | Vermont | 2.89 |
#39 | Ohio | 2.86 |
#40 | California | 2.83 |
#41 | Iowa | 2.80 |
#42 | Illinois | 2.73 |
#43 | Pennsylvania | 2.45 |
#44 | Washington | 2.40 |
#45 | DC | 2.31 |
#46 | New Hampshire | 2.01 |
#47 | Massachusetts | 1.75 |
#48 | Utah | 1.71 |
#49 | Minnesota | 1.52 |
#50 | New York | 1.49 |
#51 | New Jersey | 1.39 |