How High Does North Dakota Rank When It Comes To Drunk Driving?

Data compiled by The Zebra was used to compile a list of the worst states for drunk driving using data from NHTSA, the Census Bureau and the FBI.

The states with the worst drunk driving problems in the nation are:

#1 Wyoming with 6.2 Fatalities and 550 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

#2 North Dakota with 5.4 Fatalities and 633 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

#3 Montana with 6.2 Fatalities and 344 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

#4 Idaho with 3.8 Fatalities and 422 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

#5 Maine with 3.7 Fatalities and 405 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

While each state has a different response to drunk driving offenses, some trends were uncovered.

Data also found that:

• Wyoming ranked worst for drunk driving problems and had more fatalities per 100,000 people than any other state.
• North Dakota was the state with the most DUIs, trailed by South Dakota and Wyoming.
• The four most dangerous states (Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho) for drunk driving share the same geographic region.
• Montana and North Dakota also rank in the top states in the nation for overall alcohol consumption .

The region from the Midwest to the Rocky Mountains, which includes North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, is the most hazardous in the United States for drunk driving accidents. Each of these states, often ranks at the top of annual rankings of the number of DUI arrests and fatalities per capita, and they frequently come under fire from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups for their lax drunk driving laws.

A state's DUI arrest rate per capita can help determine how common drunk driving is there. These figures don't distinguish between arrests for misdemeanors and felonies, and they don't take into account intoxicated drivers who weren't detained, but they do show which states may be less tolerant of drinking and driving.