Drinking and Driving

In Virginia, alcohol-related fatalities have fallen by 28% in the last three decades (1992-2022); (Alcohol-related means any amount of alcohol was present during the crash, as determined by the officer.)

  • In 2022, 27 percent of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related in Virginia; 274 of 2022’s 1,005 fatalities were alcohol-related.
  • In 2022, 14,247 people were convicted of DUI in Virginia.
  • On average, 1 person was killed, 11 people were injured, and 19 crashes occurred, which were all alcohol-related, every day in Virginia in 2022.

All drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher are considered to be driving under the influence (DUI); however, if drivers 21 and older are impaired with a BAC lower than .08 percent, they also can be convicted of DUI. Drivers under age 21 can be convicted of illegal consumption of alcohol with a BAC of .02 to less than .08.

Buzzed vs. Drunk Driving

With a third of all traffic deaths attributable to alcohol, drunk driving is deadly; however, so is driving after consuming a small amount of alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a .02% BAC results in a decline in visual function, an inability to multi-task and some loss of judgment. At a .05% BAC, drivers experience reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering and a reduced response to emergency situations.

Tough Laws

Virginia has some of the strongest drunk driving laws in the nation, which also apply to drugged driving. First-time offenders lose their driver’s license for a year, and have a mandatory ignition interlock device when they begin driving again. A three-year driver’s license suspension occurs after a second conviction, and 20 days in jail is required for a second conviction within five years.

Additional Resources

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