A decade ago, many still viewed drunk driving as a “guy problem.” This perception has changed.
Numbers released in November show female DUI arrests jumped 17% between 2022 and 2024 — more than four times the 4% increase seen among men, per a report from the Suzuki Law Office.
Women now account for one out of every four DUI arrests across the country, up from 19% ten years ago.
And Texas is playing a pivotal part in the surge.
Along with California and Florida, the Lone Star State helped drive nearly half of the national increase in female DUI arrests during that two-year stretch. The statewide trend is pretty glaring.
Yet, not only has the overall number of female DUIs spiked, but so have their alcohol intoxication levels.
Average blood-alcohol levels for women arrested on DUI charges rose from 0.13 to 0.15 – well over the legal limit of 0.08 – a potential sign that the incidents aren’t close calls; they are very serious drunk driving cases.
Nighttime arrests between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. shot up 22% for women, and the fastest-growing age bracket was 35- to 44-year-olds.
Men still dominate the most tragic statistic: 68% of fatal DUI crashes still involve drivers under 35, almost all of them male, according to the study.
However, women’s share of deadly wrecks has quietly doubled since 2015, and Texas already ranks near the top nationally for total alcohol-related traffic deaths.
The findings come from an analysis of more than 500,000 DUI arrests logged between January 2022 and December 2024, cross-referenced with NHTSA fatality reports, state DMV records, and FBI crime data.
With the gender gap closing faster than almost anyone expected, law enforcement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapters across the state may be watching the new surge in women’s cases closely.
The police message is clear: anyone of any age or gender who chooses to drive under the influence is risking their life and those of others.
