Louisiana residents know that drunk driving continues to be a serious concern on our roads—but how much has really changed in recent years? With shifts in traffic patterns, population trends, and enforcement efforts, it’s worth taking a closer look at the data.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we reviewed publicly available records from the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) to better understand how drunk driving has impacted communities across the state over the past five years (2020-2024)
From overall crash numbers to deeper insights by parish and age group, our goal was to uncover the story behind the statistics. What we found offers a revealing look at where progress has been made—and where serious risks still remain.
Key Findings
Before diving into the details, it’s important to highlight some key takeaways from the data spanning 5 years from 2020-2024.
- There were a reported 5,182 drunk driving accidents across Louisiana in 2024.
- Louisiana was in the top 15 worst states for drunk driving accidents from 2020-2023.
- East Baton Rouge Parish has the most fatal drunk driving accidents overall with 145 fatalities.
- St. Helena Parish has the most fatal drunk driving accidents per capita.
- There was a 53% decrease in drunk driving accidents across Louisiana.
- There was a 21% decrease in fatal drunk driving accidents in Louisiana.
- Young men were 3x more likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident.
- 83% of drivers in Louisiana fatal crashes were legally drunk with a BAC of .08% or higher.
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- Which Parish in Louisiana Has the Most Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes?
- Which Parish in Louisiana Has the Most Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes Per Capita?
- How Many Drunk Driving Accidents Are There Per Year in Louisiana?
- How Many Drunk Driving Accidents in Louisiana Are Fatal?
- Is Louisiana Among the Worst States for Drunk Driving Accidents?
- What Blood Alcohol Level Is Considered Drunk Driving?
- Is Drunk Driving a Misdemeanor in Louisiana?
- How Do I Report Suspected Drunk Driving in Louisiana?
- Contact Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys
Which Parish in Louisiana Has the Most Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes?
Over a five-year span, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, Caddo, Calcasieu, and Jefferson parishes reported the highest numbers of fatal drunk driving crashes in Louisiana.
From 2020 to 2024, East Baton Rouge Parish consistently recorded the most fatal drunk driving crashes each year. Its total, 145 fatalities, was nearly double that of the next closest parishes, with Orleans Parish reporting 76 and Caddo Parish 67. Calcasieu and Jefferson parishes followed closely, each with 63 fatal crashes over the same period.
While total crash numbers show which parishes are hit hardest overall, they don’t tell the whole story. Some parishes have far smaller populations than others and when you adjust for population size, the picture shifts.
Which Parish in Louisiana Has the Most Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes Per Capita?
To make a more accurate comparison between large and small parishes, we calculated the fatality rate per 100,000 residents using population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the numbers from the CARTS D9 Report.
The formula used was: (Fatalities ÷ Population) × 100,000. This data was calculated by taking the fatalities for each year in each parish, the population size for each parish of each year, and then comparing the sums of each over a 5 year period.
For example, St. Helena Parish had 11 reported fatalities over the 5 year time period of 2020-2024, but due to its small population, it actually had the highest fatality rate per capita of 101 deaths per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, East Baton Rouge Parish, with 145 total deaths over the same time period, still had the most fatalities overall — but its rate per capita was lower at just 5 deaths per 100,000 residents because of its much larger population.
Overall, the parishes with the 5 highest drunk driving deaths per capita from 2020-2024 include St. Helena, Madison, Caldwell, Richland, and Concordia accordingly.
How Many Drunk Driving Accidents Are There Per Year in Louisiana Overall?
In 2024, there were a reported 5,182 drunk driving accidents in Louisiana. That’s a 59% drop from the recent peak in 2021, when there were 12,694 alcohol-related crashes. It’s also a 53% decrease compared to 2020.
Drunk driving crashes rose sharply from 2020 to 2021, which may partly be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the state has seen a steady and significant decline in these types of accidents each year.
Here’s a breakdown of drunk driving crashes in Louisiana over the past five years:
| Year | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,968 |
| 2021 | 12,604 |
| 2022 | 9,025 |
| 2023 | 5,414 |
| 2024 | 5,182 |
How Many Drunk Driving Accidents in Louisiana Are Fatal?
In 2021, Louisiana recorded 196 fatal alcohol-related accidents. While the number represents just 4% of the state’s total 5,182 drunk driving crashes for the year, it highlights the ongoing severity of impaired driving.
From 2020-2024, there was a 21% decrease in fatal alcohol-related driving accidents in Louisiana.
Although drunk driving crashes overall have declined sharply since 2021, the number of fatal accidents hasn’t fallen at the same rate. Fatalities actually spiked in 2021, mirroring a rise in total drunk driving incidents that year. It wasn’t until 2023 that the number of fatal crashes dropped below the 2020 total of 238.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of fatal drunk driving crashes in Louisiana:
| Year | Number of Fatal Alcohol-Related Accidents |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 238 |
| 2021 | 287 |
| 2022 | 261 |
| 2023 | 221 |
| 2024 | 1962 |
What Days of the Week Do Most Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes Occur?
From 2020-2024, our study found that, not surprisingly, a majority of 62% of alcohol related fatal crashes happened from Friday to Sunday. A majority of suspected injuries of alcohol related crashes, 71%, also took place on Friday-Sunday. This trend may be linked to increased social activity and alcohol consumption during weekends when more people are off work.
Do More Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes Occur in Rural Areas or Urban Areas?
Over our study, we found that on average 40% of fatal crashes occurred in rural areas while 60% occurred in urban areas. In 2023, however, there was only a 6% difference between urban and rural crashes. One contributing factor could be the higher concentration of drivers and vehicles in urban regions compared to rural ones.
Is Louisiana Among the Worst States for Drunk Driving Accidents?
We analyzed Louisiana’s ranking among all U.S. states for drunk driving accidents. Our findings show that Louisiana consistently ranked within the top 15 states for the highest number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2023, Louisiana tied with Arkansas for 10th place, with 5.1 people killed per 100,000 residents in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Before that, it ranked 7th in 2022, 5th in 2021, and 9th in 2020.
This data was sourced from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report – Table 117.
To provide a clearer comparison, we also considered population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and calculated per capita fatality rates with the following formula: (Alcohol Impaired Driving Fatalities ÷ Population) × 100,000.
Please note that data for 2024 was not available at the time of this analysis in the NHTSA report. Our findings reflect data from 2020 through 2023.
How Many Teen Drivers Died From Drunk Driving in Louisiana?
When we examined data from 2020 to 2024 involving youth drivers in fatal drunk driving crashes, one pattern was clear: young men were consistently more likely to be involved than young women. To ensure a fair comparison, we based our analysis on the number of licensed drivers in each group and calculated the rate per 100,000 licensed drivers.
In the 15–17 and 21–24 age groups, licensed male drivers were about three times more likely than their female peers to be involved in a fatal drunk driving crash. Among drivers aged 18–20, the gap widened even more—men were five times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than women.
Here’s the average number of fatal drunk driving crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers for each group:
- Ages 15–17: 2 for men, 1 for women
- Ages 18–20: 13 for men, 3 for women
- Ages 21–24: 21 for men, 7 for women
These findings highlight the need for continued outreach, education, and targeted prevention efforts aimed at young male drivers, who remain disproportionately involved in fatal drunk driving incidents.
What Blood Alcohol Level Is Considered Drunk Driving?
Under Louisiana RS 14:98, drunk driving is when a blood alcohol level is 0.08% or more. In our research, we discovered that 83% of drivers in Louisiana fatal crashes were legally drunk with a BAC of .08% or higher.
At .08%, people can have reduced muscle coordination, find it difficult to detect danger, and have impaired judgment and reasoning. At .10% or higher, symptoms can include having reduced reaction times, slurred speech, and slowed thinking. At .2% people will most likely experience confusion, vomiting, and drowsiness. When someone reaches a level of .3% they can have alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening.
Is Drunk Driving a Misdemeanor in Louisiana?
A first-time charge for a DUI in Louisiana is considered a misdemeanor. Penalties can include community services, fines of $300-$1,000, license suspension, possible probation, and the risk of facing up to six months in jail. If a first-time DUI offense resulted in the wrongful death of an individual or violated the child endangerment law, the offender can be charged with a felony.
How Do I Report Suspected Drunk Driving in Louisiana?
If you see a suspected drunk driver and want to report them in Louisiana, you can dial LSP (577). This will connect you with the Louisiana State Police Troop in your area. Be ready to provide the location of the vehicle, such as street or highway names, its make and model, and any other relevant details that could help law enforcement locate and assess the driver.
You also have the option to use the “See Something, Send Something” App to report the incident. This app is gives users the ability to write or take a photo of anything that is suspicious.
Contact Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Today
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Louisiana, the car accident attorneys from Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys are here to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us by filling out our online contact form or by calling (225) 999-1111 to schedule a free consultation.
A Note About Our Data
This study is comprised of data from Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) reports from 2020-2024.
*If you’d like to report on our findings or use any visuals or data from this analysis, please credit us by linking to this page.