Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2009 Jul;33(7):1208-19.
doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.00945.x. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

The impact of underage drinking laws on alcohol-related fatal crashes of young drivers

James C Fell  1 , Deborah A Fisher, Robert B Voas, Kenneth Blackman, A Scott Tippetts
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The impact of underage drinking laws on alcohol-related fatal crashes of young drivers

James C Fell et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Jul.

Abstract

Background: This study used a pre- to post-design to evaluate the influence on drinking-and-driving fatal crashes of 6 laws directed at youth aged 20 and younger and 4 laws targeting all drivers.

Methods: Data on the laws were drawn from the Alcohol Policy Information System data set (1998 to 2005), the Digests of State Alcohol Highway Safety Related Legislation (1983 to 2006), and the Westlaw database. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System data set (1982 to 2004) was used to assess the ratio of drinking to nondrinking drivers involved in fatal crashes [fatal crash incidence ratio (CIR)]. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques.

Results: Significant decreases in the underage fatal CIR were associated with presence of 4 of the laws targeting youth (possession, purchase, use and lose, and zero tolerance) and 3 of the laws targeting all drivers (0.08 blood alcohol concentration illegal per se law, secondary or upgrade to a primary seat belt law, and an administrative license revocation law). Beer consumption was associated with a significant increase in the underage fatal CIR. The direct effects of laws targeting drivers of all ages on adult drinking drivers aged 26 and older were similar but of a smaller magnitude compared to the findings for those aged 20 and younger. It is estimated that the 2 core underage drinking laws (purchase and possession) and the zero tolerance law are currently saving an estimated 732 lives per year controlling for other exposure factors. If all states adopted use and lose laws, an additional 165 lives could be saved annually.

Conclusions: These results provide substantial support for the effectiveness of under age 21 drinking laws with 4 of the 6 laws examined having significant associations with reductions in underage drinking-and-driving fatal crashes. These findings point to the importance of key underage drinking and traffic safety laws in efforts to reduce underage drinking-driver crashes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Full SEM including all coefficients (regardless of statistical significance). Fit: χ2 (N= 1122, df =108) = 4041.26, p < .001, χ2/df = 37.42, CFI = .443, NFI = .439, RMSEA=.18
Figure 2
Figure 2
MLDA-21 Law Effects on Ratio of Age <21 Drinking Drivers to Age <21 Nondrinking Drivers in Fatal Crashes (1982-2004)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Traffic Safety Law Effects on the Ratio of Age <21 Drinking Drivers to Age <21 Nondrinking Drivers in Fatal Crashes (1982-2004)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Traffic Safety Law and Enforcement Effects on the Ratio of >Aged 25 Drinking Drivers to >Aged 25 Nondrinking Drivers in Fatal Crashes (1982-2004)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Arnold R. Effect of raising the legal drinking age on driver involvement in fatal crashes: The experience of thirteen states. (DOT HS 806 902) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Washington, DC: 1985.
    1. Bernat DH, Dunsmuir WTM, Wagenaar AC. Effects of lowering the legal BAC to 0.08 on single-vehicle-nighttime fatal traffic crashes in 19 jurisdictions. Accid Anal Prev. 2004;36:1089–1097. - PubMed
    1. Chaloupka FJ, Saffer H, Grossman M. Alcohol-control policies and motor-vehicle fatalities. J Legal Studies. 1993;22:161–86.
    1. Dang JN. Statistical analysis of alcohol-related driving trends, 1982-2005. (DOT HS 810 942) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Washington, DC: 2008.
    1. Decker MD, Graitcer PL, Schaffner W. Reduction in motor vehicle fatalities associated with an increase in the minimum drinking age. JAMA. 1988;260:3604–3610. - PubMed

Publication types