These Car Brands Have the Highest DUI Rates in America

These Car Brands Have the Highest DUI Rates in America

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Driving under the influence of alcohol remains a serious public safety issue across the United States. According to the NHTSA, 34 people across the country die every day from drunk-driving crashes.

But which vehicles are most commonly linked to drivers with DUIs?

This infographic visualizes the results of a 2024 analysis that ranks car brands with the most DUIs in the U.S., measured by DUIs per 1,000 drivers.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from LendingTree. It tracks DUI rates by car brand, providing insight into which brands’ drivers are most often cited for impaired driving.

Rank	Brand	DUIs per 1,000 drivers
1	BMW	3.1
2	RAM	3.0
3	Acura	2.7
4	Audi	2.4
4	Volvo	2.4
6	Subaru	2.4
7	Cadillac	2.3
8	GMC	2.2
9	Jeep	2.1
10	Ford	2.1
10	Honda	2.1
12	Chevrolet	2.0
13	Dodge	2.0
14	Mitsubishi	2.0
15	Tesla	1.9
16	Toyota	1.9
17	Volkswagen	1.9
18	Mazda	1.8
19	Nissan	1.7
20	Lexus	1.7
21	Kia	1.7
22	Hyundai	1.6
23	Infiniti	1.5
24	Mercedes-Benz	1.4
25	Chrysler	1.4
26	Buick	1.3
27	Pontiac	1.2
28	Land Rover	1.2
28	Lincoln	1.2
30	Mercury	0.9

BMW Owners Have the Most DUIs per 1,000 Drivers

BMW ranks first, with 3.1 DUI violations per 1,000 drivers. Other luxury brands like Acura (2.7) and Audi (2.4) are close behind, suggesting some form of lifestyle or demographic trend.

Note that this isn’t true for all luxury brands—Mercedes-Benz (1.4) and Land Rover (1.2) both rank very low for DUIs.

Interestingly, a 2012 study by the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California, Berkeley found there is indeed a link between bad driving habits and wealth.

The study watched 152 drivers approach a pedestrian crosswalk to see if they would stop for a person walking across. While eight of every 10 cars stopped, researchers noted that drivers in more expensive cars were less likely.

One of the most significant trends was that fancy cars were less likely to stop. BMW drivers were the worst.
– Paul K. Piff, UC Berkeley

While running through a crosswalk and drunk driving are two very different offenses, both highlight how certain demographics of drivers may be more prone to risky behavior behind the wheel.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out U.S. Cities With the Most DUIs on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/these-car-brands-have-the-highest-dui-rates-in-america/