Worst states for drunk-driving deaths

A new study indicates that Connecticut and Texas have the highest percentage of fatal car crashes involving drunk drivers. The data suggests that in Texas, more than four out of every 10 fatal crashes (40.8%) over a four-year period involved a driver found to have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of more than 0.08 g/dL, which is the legal limit in the U.S.

In Connecticut, out of 1,983 drivers involved in fatal crashes, 809 (also 40.8%) were impaired. In both states, drivers in more than a quarter of fatal crashes registered BAC levels that surpassed 0.15 g/dL, which is close to double the legal limit and a point where motor function, speech, and judgment are all severely affected, along with severe impairment of driving skills.

States ranking after Texas and Connecticut were, in order, Rhode Island (38.5% over the limit), Montana (37.6%) and Washington (34%). In each case, around 25% were at nearly double the legal limit of intoxication..