Impaired driving is not evenly distributed across genders, and the month of December sharply magnifies that divide. While both men and women drive more during the holiday season, the data shows that men are far more likely to be involved in impaired-driving crashes, arrests, and fatalities, particularly during late-night December travel tied to Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
December is officially recognized as Impaired Driver Awareness Month, yet it remains one of the deadliest months on U.S. roads. A closer look at gender-based crash and arrest data shows why: male drivers consistently account for the majority of impaired-driving risk, and the holiday season concentrates that risk into a narrow, high-exposure window.
New analysis of national crash statistics, DUI arrest trends, and holiday fatality patterns reveals how and why gender disparities in impaired driving persist — and why December remains especially dangerous.
Key Findings
- Approximately 75% of DUI arrests nationwide involve men, a proportion that has remained stable for years.
- Men are involved in impaired-driving crashes at significantly higher rates than women, including fatal crashes.
- Late-night holiday driving disproportionately involves male drivers, particularly between midnight and 2:59 a.m., when alcohol impairment peaks.
- Repeat DUI offenders — overwhelmingly male — are more than four times as likely to be involved in fatal crashes than drivers with clean records.
- December consistently records over 1,000 impaired-driving deaths, with male drivers dominating arrest and crash involvement.
- Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes in California with BAC ≥ 0.01 = 5,564
- CA is in the Top 10 States With the Highest Number of Drunk Driving Arrests: 189,743
Full research and methodology is available here.
The Gender Gap in Impaired Driving
Across decades of traffic safety data, one pattern has remained remarkably consistent: men are far more likely to drive while impaired.
National arrest data shows that roughly three out of every four DUI arrests involve male drivers, despite men and women driving similar total miles annually. That imbalance carries over into crash data, where men are more likely to be involved in alcohol-impaired fatal crashes and more likely to do so at higher levels of impairment.
December does not create this disparity — it intensifies it.
Holiday celebrations, late-night social gatherings, and increased travel place more drivers on the road during the highest-risk hours. Men are disproportionately represented in these conditions, especially during overnight driving windows when impairment rates spike.
Why December Amplifies Male Risk
Timing is critical to understanding gender-based risk.
Federal traffic data shows that alcohol involvement in fatal crashes is far higher at night than during daytime hours, with the most dangerous window falling between midnight and early morning. During December, those hours see a surge in holiday-related travel tied to parties, family gatherings, and New Year’s celebrations.
Male drivers are more likely to:
- Drive late at night
- Drive alone after social events
- Travel longer distances during holiday periods
- Engage in higher-risk driving behaviors
As a result, male drivers dominate impaired-driving arrest and crash statistics during the holidays, even when enforcement efforts are heightened.
Arrests, Enforcement, and Repeat Offenders
DUI arrest data highlights another critical factor: repeat offenders.
Research shows that drivers with prior DUI convictions are more than four times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as drivers with no prior impairment offenses. These repeat offenders are overwhelmingly male.
The data also suggests that the average impaired driver has driven under the influence dozens of times before their first arrest, meaning enforcement often intervenes late in a long pattern of risky behavior.
December enforcement campaigns – including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols – do increase arrests. But they often identify repeat behavior rather than first-time risk, underscoring why fatality numbers remain high even as enforcement expands.
Crash Severity and Male Drivers
Beyond frequency, crash severity differs by gender.
Male drivers involved in impaired crashes are:
- More likely to be driving at higher speeds
- More likely to be involved in single-vehicle crashes
- More likely to be unbelted at the time of a crash
These factors increase the likelihood that an impaired crash will result in severe injury or death. During December, when road conditions, traffic density, and fatigue already elevate risk, these behaviors further compound danger.
Women, Impairment, and Different Risk Profiles
While women represent a smaller share of impaired-driving arrests and crashes, their risk profile differs rather than disappears.
Women are:
- Less likely to be arrested for DUI
- Less likely to be involved in high-BAC crashes
- More likely to be involved in multi-vehicle crashes caused by impaired drivers
In December, women face elevated risk not primarily as impaired drivers, but as other motorists sharing the road with impaired male drivers during peak holiday travel periods.
This distinction is critical when evaluating public safety impact. Impaired driving does not only endanger the impaired driver — it places all road users at risk, regardless of their own behavior.
Drugs, Alcohol, and Gender Differences
Alcohol remains the dominant impairment factor across genders, but drug-impaired driving also shows gender disparities.
Male drivers are more likely to:
- Combine alcohol with other substances
- Engage in poly-drug impairment
- Underestimate impairment risk
December increases the likelihood of these combinations, as holiday stress, travel fatigue, and substance use overlap.
Why the Gender Gap Persists
Despite decades of public messaging, the gender imbalance in impaired driving has changed little. The data suggests that behavioral patterns, exposure timing, and repeat offending, rather than awareness alone, drive this gap.
December concentrates those patterns into the most dangerous driving environment of the year.
Why This Matters Now
Understanding why men account for the vast majority of impaired-driving crashes and arrests is essential for prevention efforts, enforcement strategy, and public awareness during the deadliest driving season.
Penalties for DUI arrest in California
In California, a DUI conviction results in significant penalties including substantial fines, potential jail time, mandatory license suspension, and enrollment in a DUI education program. These consequences also severely impact employment prospects, especially for professional drivers and licensed professionals, and lead to drastically higher insurance rates for at least 10 years.
Legal Penalties (First Offense Misdemeanor)
A first-time DUI offense without aggravating factors is typically a misdemeanor and may result in the following penalties:
- Jail Time: Up to six months in county jail, though probation is often granted in lieu of incarceration.
- Fines: Fines from $390 to $1,000, with total costs (including penalty assessments and court fees) often exceeding $2,000.
- License Suspension: A six-month driver’s license suspension. A restricted license may be available for driving to work or school, often requiring an Ignition Interlock Device (IID).
- DUI School: Mandatory completion of a three to nine-month court-approved DUI education program.
- Probation: Typically three to five years of informal probation.
- IID Installation: Mandatory installation of an IID for six months to drive anywhere (or as an alternative to a hard suspension after 30 days).
Note: You must request a DMV administrative hearing within 10 days of your arrest to contest the automatic license suspension; this is separate from the court case.
Impact on Employment
A DUI conviction can have immediate and long-term negative effects on your job or career:
- Job Loss: Employers, particularly those with strict policies or in safety-sensitive roles (government, security clearances), may terminate an employee after a DUI conviction.
- Driving-Related Jobs: For commercial drivers or those whose jobs require driving (e.g., delivery drivers, sales representatives), a DUI often results in the immediate loss or suspension of their commercial driver’s license (CDL) for at least one year, making it impossible to perform their job duties.
- Professional Licenses: Individuals in licensed professions (e.g., doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, real estate agents) must report the conviction to their respective licensing boards, which may lead to disciplinary action, including license suspension or revocation.
- Future Prospects: The conviction appears on background checks and can make it difficult to secure new employment, especially when competing with candidates who have a clean record.
Impact on Insurance
A DUI conviction in California classifies you as a high-risk driver, leading to significant insurance consequences:
- Increased Premiums: Insurance premiums can increase by an average of 164%, potentially adding thousands of dollars in annual costs.
- SR-22 Requirement: You will be required to file an SR-22 form (Proof of Financial Responsibility) with the DMV for at least three years to reinstate your license. The requirement for an SR-22 flags you as a high-risk driver.
- Loss of Discounts: You will lose eligibility for “good driver” or other discounts for at least 10 years.
- Policy Renewal/Cancellation: While an insurer cannot cancel an existing policy mid-term due to a DUI, they can legally cancel or offer a renewal with a significantly higher premium once the policy term ends.