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Which States have the Worst DUI Problems?

Although drunk driving fatalities in the United States have been reduced by nearly 50% since the early 1980s, thanks to harsher penalties for DUI’s and the work of awareness groups like MADD, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious problem on America’s roadways.

In 2018, 29% of total motor vehicle fatalities were a result of alcohol impairment, wherein an operator of a vehicle involved in the crash had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater. The good news is that this is the lowest percentage of alcohol-related fatalities since the NHTSA began reporting alcohol data in 1982. However, the rate is much higher in some states compared to others.

To give you a full picture of the current drunk driving situation in the U.S., we used the latest FBI arrest figures, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes, and U.S. Census data to rank all 50 states based on the severity of their DUI problem.

We calculated our DUI severity score using each state’s DUI arrest rate per 100,000 population and the DUI fatality rate per 100,000 population. View the results in the heat map, below

Drunk Driving Statistics: Analysis

The north-central region comprising Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas is by far the worst area for drunk driving in the United States, with the four states taking the top 4 positions in our ranking. Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota have the top three DUI arrest rates, while Montana and Wyoming have the two highest DUI death rates.

The south is the deadliest region for drunk driving: 7 of the 12 states with the highest DUI death rates belong to the region (South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina).

States in the northeast and midwest have the least severe problem with drunk driving: of the 15 states with the lowest DUI severity scores, 11 (if you count Maryland as a northeastern state) belong to one of the two regions.

Massachusetts is the state with the drunk driving problem of overall least concern, boasting both the 3rd lowest DUI arrest rate and the 3rd lowest DUI death rate.

Montana has the highest share of alcohol-related traffic deaths, at 43%. Followed by Texas at 40%.

West Virginia and Kentucky have the lowest share of alcohol-related traffic deaths, with 19%. Yet, Kentucky’s DUI arrest rate of 423.13 per 100K is significantly higher than West Virginia’s.

17 states witnessed a net increase in DUI fatalities, while 33 witnessed net decreases.

The state with the greatest percentage increase in DUI fatalities was New Hampshire, posting a considerable 77.80% increase in DUI fatalities over the previous year.

Rhode Island saw the most significant decrease in DUI fatalities, with a 41.2% drop.

States with the Worst DUI Problems

Rank	State	DUI Arrests	DUI Arrest Rate (per 100K)	DUI Fatalities	Rate of Total Traffic Deaths	DUI Fatalities Increase/Decrease over Prior Year	DUI Death Rate (per 100K)	DUI Severity Score
1	Wyoming	3,432	676.10	34	30%	-26.10%	5.89	12.65
2	South Dakota	5,891	721.93	45	35%	25%	5.10	12.32
3	Montana	3,794	381.24	79	43%	38.60%	7.44	11.25
4	North Dakota	5,136	678.35	29	27%	-38.30%	3.82	10.60
5	Mississippi	5,370	462.21	163	25%	6.50%	5.46	10.08
6	New Mexico	6,464	459.67	108	28%	-4.40%	5.15	9.75
7	North Carolina	27,915	518.82	421	29%	5%	4.05	9.24
8	South Carolina	15,188	344.48	291	28%	-4.60%	5.72	9.17
9	Alaska	3,148	429.03	29	36%	31.80%	3.93	8.22
10	Wisconsin	24,368	425.26	199	34%	5.30%	3.42	7.68
11	Texas	69,643	259.58	1439	40%	-2.80%	4.93	7.52
12	Maine	5,811	434.17	42	30%	-14.30%	3.14	7.48
13	Colorado	20,353	410.96	188	30%	6.80%	3.30	7.41
14	New Hampshire	5,053	383.60	48	33%	77.80%	3.54	7.37
15	Oregon	13,707	369.46	153	30%	4.80%	3.65	7.35
16	Kentucky	14,812	423.13	137	19%	-23.50%	3.07	7.30
17	Alabama	6,391	208.12	246	26%	-7.20%	5.03	7.11
18	Georgia	23,449	347.79	375	25%	5.30%	3.56	7.04
19	Idaho	5,689	365.86	58	25%	-9.40%	3.31	6.96
20	Arizona	19,200	291.52	285	28%	5.90%	3.97	6.89
21	Arkansas	5,761	218.21	134	26%	-8.20%	4.45	6.63
22	Tennessee	19,108	300.28	243	23%	-3.20%	3.59	6.59
23	Vermont	2,576	418.37	15	23%	-11.80%	2.40	6.58
24	Nevada	10,984	364.51	87	26%	-1.10%	2.87	6.51
25	Washington	27,632	430.19	166	30%	-5.70%	2.20	6.50
26	Kansas	4,554	347.94	88	22%	-15.40%	3.02	6.50
27	Nebraska	4,630	305.38	66	29%	-4.30%	3.42	6.47
28	Iowa	10,082	375.23	85	27%	-5.60%	2.69	6.45
29	Indiana	11,890	295.37	227	26%	-13.40%	3.39	6.35
30	Hawaii	4,288	373.48	35	30%	-16.70%	2.46	6.20
31	West Virginia	3,141	298.54	57	19%	-18.60%	3.16	6.14
32	Missouri	11,874	219.61	240	26%	-2.80%	3.92	6.11
33	Pennsylvania	43,798	346.79	334	28%	4%	2.61	6.08
34	Louisiana	5,650	142.88	216	28%	1.40%	4.64	6.06
35	Oklahoma	8,660	225.07	145	22%	-9.90%	3.68	5.93
36	California	127,250	322.71	1069	30%	-6.80%	2.68	5.91
37	Minnesota	20,186	362.35	105	28%	25%	1.87	5.49
38	Connecticut	7,484	216.44	115	39%	-3.40%	3.22	5.38
39	Virginia	20,885	253.45	240	29%	-2%	2.82	5.35
40	Florida	32,127	150.98	814	26%	-3.20%	3.82	5.33
41	Michigan	26,130	265.07	267	27%	-12.50%	2.67	5.32
42	Maryland	18,150	308.71	122	24%	-33%	2.02	5.11
43	Utah	7,119	266.53	61	23%	13%	1.93	4.60
44	New York	25,094	262.18	307	33%	6.60%	1.57	4.19
45	Rhode Island	2,423	229.17	20	34%	-41.20%	1.89	4.18
46	Ohio	13,723	152.28	294	28%	-10.60%	2.52	4.04
47	New Jersey	17,230	219.64	125	22%	3.30%	1.40	3.60
48	Illinois	2,825	98.59	309	30%	-13.40%	2.43	3.41
49	Delaware	427	44.29	28	25%	-9.70%	2.90	3.34
50	Massachusetts	8,280	140.71	120	33%	-3.20%	1.74	3.15

Summary

Overall, when looking at the decrease in drunk driving fatalities and arrests in the United States over time, the situation is promising. As we mentioned in the intro, 2018 witnessed the lowest percentage of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities since data began to be compiled on the subject, and 2018 saw a 3.6% drop over the prior year. Promisingly, two of the worst states for drunk driving, North Dakota and Wyoming, had two of the most significant decreases in alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities (ND = -38.30%, Wyoming = 26.10%).

We still have a long way to go: thousands lose their lives each year in alcohol-related fatalities, which in turn profoundly affects the lives of families across the country, but when it comes to drinking and driving in the U.S., the outlook is a positive one.

Methodology

In order to rank the states by the severity of their DUI problem, the DUI severity score was calculated using DUI arrest rates per 100K and DUI fatalities per 100K. Rates per 100K were calculated using the latest 2018 FBI Arrest statistics for DUI arrests, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics for DUI fatalities. Due to the fact that the FBI arrest data was incomplete and not covering a state’s entire population in some cases, the population figure posted by the FBI was used to calculate the DUI arrest rate per 100 for all 50 states. To calculate the DUI fatality rate per 100K, the latest census population data was used. Note: 2018 Iowa arrest data was not available so data from the 2017 FBI report was used in its place.

These are the Most Sexually Diseased States in the U.S.

Updated: October 5, 2017

Since we first looked at the data, the CDC has published new findings, with new data from 2016 available. It’s only gotten worse, but state rankings have changed. Read on.

With the popularity of hookup apps like Tinder and Grindr, finding casual sex partners has never been easier, but the increasing convenience of enjoying one-nighters has come with a cost: STD rates are surging in the U.S. like never before. Check out the full details and study below.

In alarming news for sexually active singles, CDC reports found that STD rates rose again in 2016, reaching an all-time high by topping 2015 figures, which previously stood as the worst year for STDs in the U.S. The problem is so bad that many experts are labeling the surge in STD rates a national epidemic.

In order to keep you informed about which areas pose the greatest risk, we compiled a nationwide ranking of states by the frequency of STD infection. This report was created by taking local county and state health data, social media surveys, and CDC data on the rate of incidents per 100k residents for the two most common STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia, and calculating a weighted average between the two. The results may surprise you.

Compared to our earlier 2016 rankings, perhaps the biggest story from the 2016 CDC data is the increase in reported gonorrhea cases. The top ten worst states all experienced a rise in the rate of gonorrhea per 100k residents. In Alaska (#1), Mississippi (#2) and Georgia (#4), the rate rose by more than 40 per 100k, enough for Alaska to maintain its status as the worst state in U.S. for STDs, and for the latter two states to move up several positions in the rankings. The across-the-board increase in gonorrhea infection is startling, and many experts attribute it to the rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease.

Chlamydia rates also rose in most states, and remains the most common STD in the nation, which is often attributed to the fact that most people infected do not experience symptoms.

Some states were hit hard in 2016: Delaware’s (#9) rate of chlamydia infection increased by over 60 per 100k, enough to bring it into the top ten. Mississippi’s infection rate jumped by a whopping 91.9 per 100k, pushing it up to #2 overall.

Other states fared better, including North Carolina (#7), Louisiana (#2) and New Mexico (#5) which all experienced a decrease in chlamydia infections per 100k.

The state moving up the highest in the rankings is Maryland, jumping up six spots from #24 to #18, owing to significantly elevated rates of both gonorrhea and chlamydia. Next is Delaware, climbing five spots from #14 to #9. There is a four-way tie between Georgia (#4), Indiana (#23), Virginia (#25) and North Dakota (#26) for third greatest increase as they all moved up three places in the rankings.

Hawaii experienced the greatest drop in the rankings, falling eight spots from #20 to #28 due to a decrease in the chlamydia rate per 100k residents. Three states — Texas (#16), Tennessee (#22), and Michigan (#27) — fell four spots each, while three others–North Carolina (#6), Colorado (#30), Vermont (#50) — went down three spots.

Significantly, thirty states either maintained their previous position or only moved one place in the overall rankings.

The Most Sexually Diseased States

Ranking	State	Chlamydia rate per 100,000	Gonorrhea rate per 100,000	Weighted Disease Score	February 2016 Ranking	Change in Ranking
1	Alaska	771.6	196.9	484.3	1	0
2	Mississippi	672.1	239.2	455.7	4	2
3	Louisiana	679.3	230.8	455.1	2	-1
4	Georgia	614.6	201.2	407.9	7	3
5	New Mexico	628.6	168.6	398.6	5	0
6	North Carolina	577.6	196	386.8	3	-3
7	South Carolina	575.5	187.8	381.7	6	-1
8	Arkansas	562	192.5	377.3	9	1
9	Delaware	567.2	179.9	373.6	14	5
10	Oklahoma	548.4	193.6	371.0	8	-2
11	Alabama	553.6	173	363.3	10	-1
12	Illinois	561.4	164.8	363.1	11	-1
13	New York	552.8	146.5	349.7	13	0
14	Ohio	520.9	176.4	348.7	15	1
15	Missouri	507	188.7	347.9	17	2
16	Texas	520.4	154.6	337.5	12	-4
17	California	506.2	164.9	335.6	16	-1
18	Maryland	510.4	158.5	334.5	24	6
19	Arizona	511.5	151.3	331.4	19	0
20	Nevada	506.7	151.5	329.1	22	2
21	South Dakota	504.5	147.8	326.2	21	0
22	Tennessee	489.4	154.2	321.8	18	-4
23	Indiana	466	142.8	304.4	26	3
24	Florida	467.4	138.9	303.2	25	1
25	Virginia	473.2	132.2	302.7	28	3
26	North Dakota	456.5	132.1	294.3	29	3
27	Michigan	462.9	125.5	294.2	23	-4
28	Hawaii	482.1	102.5	292.3	20	-8
29	Wisconsin	466	112.6	289.3	31	2
30	Colorado	468.6	109.5	289.1	27	-3
31	Pennsylvania	444.7	114.1	279.4	30	-1
32	Washington	435.9	114	275.0	33	1
33	Nebraska	432.3	113.7	273.0	32	-1
34	Kentucky	413.2	131.3	272.3	35	1
35	Oregon	432.5	108	270.3	36	1
36	Rhode Island	467.3	67.8	267.6	34	-2
37	Kansas	417.6	115.2	266.4	38	1
38	Montana	427.5	83.9	255.7	37	-1
39	Minnesota	413.2	93	253.1	39	0
40	Iowa	415.6	83.2	249.4	40	0
41	New Jersey	385.3	91.1	238.2	41	0
42	Massachusetts	394.5	73.3	233.9	43	1
43	Connecticut	387.4	76.1	231.8	42	-1
44	Wyoming	351.5	46.9	199.2	44	0
45	Idaho	356.3	38.4	197.4	45	0
46	Utah	315.7	70.1	192.9	46	0
47	Maine	312.6	33.9	173.3	48	1
48	West Virginia	261.4	49.8	155.6	49	1
49	New Hampshire	260.6	34.3	147.5	50	1
50	Vermont	269.9	20.1	145.0	47	-3

The Most Bullied States in America in 2016

40572_BulliedStateBanner_102516

Bullying is a major problem in schools across the United States, and it’s only gotten worse as Social Media takes a greater role in the day to day lives of children and teenagers everywhere. To get a better understanding of Bullying in America, our research team examined bullying statistics across the USA to create this list of the Most Bullied States in America.

[Important: If you are considering harming yourself, please visit this link or call 1-800-273-8255 to speak to someone who will listen].

Introduction

Bullying presents a major problem for students – it’s not just about feelings:

22% of all students were bullied during the school year.
Bullying Victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide, according to a Yale School of Medicine Study.
In a study in the United Kingdom, 29% of bullied students self harmed themselves, 14% developed an eating disorder, and 12% ran away from home!
Students who are bullied are at an increased risk for a huge range of problems, including:
1. Sleeping problems
2. Anxiety
3. Depression
Bullies themselves are at risk for violent behavior and substance abuse in the future.

Bullying has a real cost both on education and our pockets as taxpayers. A report by the National Education Association claims that over 160,000 children miss school every day because of fear of being bullied at school. The National Association of Secondary School Principals report that this lower attendance can cost up to 2.3 million dollars a year, per public school.

Most Bullied States Map

The Most Bullied States in America

Embed This Map:

Most Bullied States Ranking

Most Bullied State Ranking	State	Bullying Occurrence Score	School Violence Score	Bullying Impact Score	Total Bullying Score
1	Louisiana	20.55	7.375	13.025	40.95
2	Idaho	23.55	4.725	12.425	40.7
3	Arkansas	20.55	6.8	13.05	40.4
4	West Virginia	22.3	5.15	11.8	39.25
5	Nebraska	22.6	5.175	10.025	37.8
6	Michigan	22.2	4.4	11.05	37.65
7	Mississippi	17.5	6	12.625	36.125
8	Tennessee	19.7	5.25	10.975	35.925
9	Kentucky	19.5	5.375	10.725	35.6
10	South Dakota	20	5.3	10.025	35.325
11	Maine	21.05	3.975	9.375	34.4
12	Indiana	17.2	4.425	12.65	34.275
13	Alabama	16.25	5.9	11.675	33.825
14	Texas	16.45	5.45	11.475	33.375
15	Iowa	19.65	5.1	8.5	33.25
16	Illinois	17.45	4.65	11.125	33.225
17	Utah	19.35	4.325	9.425	33.1
18	South Carolina	16.9	4.325	11.6	32.825
19	Kansas	19.5	3.125	10.1	32.725
20	Nevada	16.6	4.35	11.625	32.575
21	North Dakota	19.95	2.65	9.775	32.375
22	Wisconsin	20.15	3.575	8.45	32.175
23	Georgia	16.7	5.4	9.675	31.775
24	Oklahoma	17.45	4.25	9.775	31.475
25	Missouri	19	1.475	10.65	31.125
26	California	16	3.625	10.8	30.425
27	Pennsylvania	17.1	3.45	9.825	30.375
28	New Mexico	16.05	3.275	10.925	30.25
29	Virginia	16.65	4.175	8.575	29.4
30	New Jersey	18.05	2.225	8.825	29.1
31	New York	18.15	3.2	7.5	28.85
32	Maryland	15.75	5.925	7.15	28.825
33	Colorado	16.85	3.05	8.625	28.525
34	New Hampshire	20.35	1.6	6.15	28.1
35	Hawaii	16.65	-	11.375	28.025
36	Ohio	17.95	1.55	8.25	27.75
37	Rhode Island	13.95	3.475	10.2	27.625
38	North Carolina	13.85	3.925	9.825	27.6
39	Delaware	14.05	4.575	8.725	27.35
40	Massachusetts	14.3	3.225	9.15	26.675
41	Florida	13.3	3.725	8.75	25.775
42	Connecticut	16.25	3.225	5.325	24.8
43	Vermont	8.25	5.1	5	18.35
44	Arizona	-	4.8	11.975	16.775

Sufficient Data was not available from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Alaska and Washington D.C. Therefore, they are not ranked.

Best and Worst States For…

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Research Methodology

The backgroundchecks.org Research team identified a number of core issues that impact bullying and bullying behavior:

Bullying Occurrence Score – 50% of Total Score
School Violence Score – 25% of Total Score
Bullying Impact Score – 20% of Total Score
State Bullying Laws – 5% of Total Score

Each of these primary metrics are made up of a number of different measurements. The higher the score, the worse Bullying issues faced in the state:

Bullying Occurrence Measurements

Physical Bullying Incident Rate: This measures amounts of physical bullying that students indicated had happened to them, while on school property.

Electronic (Cyber) Bullying Rate: How often were students cyber-bullied.

School Violence Measurements

Weapon Injury Rate: Rate of Injuries received from a weapon while at school.

School Fight Rate: Rate of involvement in fights at school.

Injury from Fight Rate: Rate of injury from those fights.

Fight on School Property Rate: Rate of fights at school.

Skipped School for Safety Rate: Rate of skipping school because they felt unsafe either at school or on the way there.

Bullying Impact Measurement

Sad or Hopeless Rate: How sad or hopeless students indicated they felt.

Suicide Planning, Attempts Rate: This is a combined measure of suicide attempts, thoughts of suicide, and suicide planning.

State Bullying Measurement

Does the State have laws for violence and bullying at school?

Do the State Laws Specifically address bullying or are they part of a broader framework?

Are Policies in place for bullying in public and private schools?

Sources Used for Research

Center for Disease Control, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
National Center for Education Statistics
National Education Association
Stop Bullying.Gov
National Education Association
The Cyberbullying Research Center

For Further Reading and Research

StopBullying.Gov

National Center for Education Statistics Fast Facts on Bullying

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System at the CDC

Bullying Laws and Analysis