Charlotte ranks among the top U.S. hotspots for drunk driving fatalities, according to a study from Summit Defense Criminal Lawyers.
The group conducted research using several metrics to determine the cities with the highest risk of drunk driving fatalities. The metrics used included the number of fatal accidents involving drivers with a BAC of 0.08 or higher and BAC 15+ g/dl, total fatal crashes and the percentage of binge drinkers over 18.Β
According to the research, Charlotte was the sixth-highest city. The U.S. cities above Charlotte were Austin, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, and Kansas City.
βWith a 64.76 composite score, Charlotte ranks sixth. The city has a relatively lower 58.70% of fatal accidents involving drunk drivers compared to the other cities on the list,β the study said. βDespite that, Charlotte appeared to have the second-highest 27.50% of adults with excessive alcohol consumption, directly impacting its composite score.β
See a table below for a breakdown of the top-10 highest-risk cities.
| City | % of fatal accidents involving drunk driver | % of binge drinkers over 18 | Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | 83.19% | 26.30% | 89.21 |
| Chicago | 60.69% | 27.90% | 68.33 |
| Dallas | 75.00% | 22.50% | 67.69 |
| San Antonio | 82.11% | 19.90% | 67.64 |
| Kansas City | 63.41% | 26.60% | 67.34 |
| Charlotte | 58.70% | 27.50% | 64.76 |
| Fort Worth | 71.93% | 22.60% | 64.47 |
| Denver | 59.15% | 26.60% | 62.42 |
| Houston | 72.13% | 21.80% | 62.16 |
| El Paso | 82.09% | 17.50% | 60.00 |
For more information on the study, click HERE.
