Greenville, South Carolina: Worst State in Nation for Drunk Driving Fatalities

South Carolina Named Worst State for Drunken Driving in Recent Study

In a recent study conducted by Simrin Law Group, South Carolina was named the worst state in the country for drunken driving. According to the study, drunken drivers in South Carolina were responsible for a staggering 43% of all traffic fatalities, significantly exceeding the national average of 32%. The study utilized the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to arrive at this troubling conclusion.

Dangerous Pattern in the Southern States

South Carolina is not the only state in the South facing this problem. Texas followed closely behind with drunken driving accounting for 42% of traffic fatalities, while New Mexico reported 33%. Other Southern states also featured in the top 10 worst states for drunken driving, indicating a dangerous pattern in the region.

Top 10 States for Drunken Driving Problems in 2024

• No. 1: South Carolina, 100.00 rating
• No. 2: Texas, 83.65
• No. 3: New Mexico, 80.77
• No. 4: Wyoming, 74.39
• No. 5: Montana, 71.72
• No. 6: Arizona, 70.31
• No. 7: Oregon, 70.25
• No. 8: Louisiana, 65.11
• No. 9: Mississippi, 63.55
• No. 10: Alabama, 60.96

Nearly Half of South Carolina’s Fatal Crashes Involve Alcohol

South Carolina scored a perfect 100 in the study, marking it as the worst state for drunken driving in 2024. Alarmingly, nearly half of the state’s fatal crashes involved alcohol, with 43% of traffic deaths attributed to drunken drivers. South Carolina also recorded 8.82 drunken driving deaths per 100,000 residents and 11.55 drunken drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers, both significantly higher than the national averages.

Greenville and Spartanburg Lead in Highway Traffic Deaths

The SC Department of Public Safety reported that Greenville County led the state in the most highway traffic deaths in 2024, with Spartanburg coming in second. Greenville recorded 35 deaths between January and June 2, while Spartanburg had 25 during the same period. Anderson County ranked fifth in the state with 16 fatalities.

Contributing Factors to Rising Numbers of Fatalities

S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Mitch Ridgeway pointed to factors such as fast population growth and unsafe driving habits including distracted driving, driving under the influence, and speeding as contributors to the increasing numbers of fatalities. Ridgeway emphasized the preventable nature of impaired driving and the importance of responsible behavior on the road.

Key Findings in the Study

• In 2022, 13,500 lives were lost due to drunken driving, with alcohol contributing to 32% of traffic fatalities nationwide.
• Southern states, including South Carolina, Texas, and New Mexico, reported drunken driving fatality rates above the national average, with other Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama following closely.
• Northeastern states like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut consistently rank among states with the lowest drunken driving rates, possibly due to greater access to public transportation and stricter DUI laws.

Utah Reports Fewest Drunken Driving Incidents

Utah stands out with only 22% of traffic fatalities involving alcohol, lower than the national average of 32%. The state recorded 2.08 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 residents and 2.99 drunken drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.

Top 10 States with the Least Drunken Driving Problems in 2024

• No. 1: Utah, 31.39 rating
• No. 2: New Jersey, 31.79
• No. 3: Massachusetts, 31.80
• No. 4: Minnesota, 36.22
• No. 5: New York, 36.68
• No. 6: Alaska, 36.78
• No. 7: Pennsylvania, 39.31
• No. 8: Michigan, 40.64
• No. 9: Wisconsin, 41.03
• No. 10: Hawaii, 41.47