Details

How does Florida compare nationally in the number of drivers who tested positive for substances (drugs or alcohol) in a fatal crash?

Data: Fatal motor vehicle crashes with at least one fatality (Fatality Analysis Reporting System), 2003-2023

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Florida vs. U.S.

A yearly rate of drug-involved drivers per 100 drivers in fatal crashes was calculated from 2003 to 2023 for Florida and the nation. For example, roughly 6 out of 100 drivers involved in a fatal crash tested positive for drugs in Florida in 2023. Nationally, roughly 14 out of 100 drivers in a fatal crash tested positive for drugs that year.

In 2016, Florida’s drug-involved driver rate rose above the national rate after a five-year streak where the national rate was higher. Cannabis was legalized in Florida in 2016, but not all drivers reflected in the rate tested positive for it. The state rate and national rate steadily rose for four years, but the national rate did not surpass Florida’s rate until 2021.

Not all drivers in fatal crashes are tested for substances. Drivers may also test positive but get an unknown result. More importantly, a positive drug test should not be assumed as drug impairment.

Drivers can test positive for the following categories, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabis, inhalants, PCP, and “multiple drugs.”

Top 10 States: Drug

Looking at averaged yearly drug-involved driver rates in other states, northeastern states like Vermont, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey rank high. Montana, a western state, ranks second among the northeastern states. Vermont leads with 25 drivers testing positive for drugs per 100 drivers involved in a fatal crash. Compared to all states, Florida ranks 25th in drug-involved driver rates.

Top 10 States: Alcohol

Western and Midwestern states like South Dakota and Wyoming rank high. As with drug-involved driver rates, Montana ranks high in alcohol-positive driver rates. Vermont, a northeastern state, also ranks high.

Compared to all states, Florida ranks low at 39th place.

Florida: Drug vs. Alcohol

In Florida, the rate of drivers who tested positive in an alcohol test per 100 drivers in a fatal crash was considerably higher than the rate of drug-positive drivers in the 2000s. Alcohol-involved driver rates continued to rise dramatically compared to drug-involved driver rates until 2018.

Drug-positive driver rates surpassed alcohol-positive driver rates for the next three years, but were then once again exceeded by alcohol-positive rates by 2023. Simultaneously, the gap between the two rates shrunk over time.

All States: Drug vs. Alcohol

The following table shows each state’s average drug-involved driver rate, alcohol-involved driver rate, the difference between the two rates, and total number of drivers.

A negative rate difference means the alcohol rate is higher than the drug rate. A positive rate difference means the drug rate is higher than the alcohol rate.

States vs. U.S.

The following table shows whether average drug rates and alcohol rates for each state are higher or lower than their respective national rates. Actual rates and differences between drug and alcohol are shown in the above table, while rate differences between state and national rates are provided below.

The national average drug-involved driver rate is 8.5 per 100 drivers in a fatal crash. The national average alcohol-involved driver rate is higher, with 16.1 per 100 drivers.

Potential Story Ideas

  • Which type of drug is most frequently found in drivers who test positive for drugs in Florida?
  • Which type of drug is most frequently found in drivers who test positive for drugs in the Northeast?
  • Are alcohol-involved driver rates inversely related to legal blood alcohol concentration limits?