Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 39 minutes. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic – a 14% increase from 2020. These deaths were all preventable. people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths – a 14% people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2020. These deaths were all preventable.