Lowering state legal blood alcohol limits to 0.08

The effect on fatal motor vehicle crashes

Bibliographic Data

ID11022889
AuthorsRalph Hingson (0000-0002-8469-004X, Boston University), Timothy Heeren (0000-0001-5643-3559), Michael Winter (0000-0002-0186-0139)
Year1996
Volume86
Issue9
Pages1297-1299
Publication date1996-09-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.86.9.1297
PMID8806383
OpenAlexW1543709671
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited5

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine whether reductions in alcohol-related fatal crashes following adoption of 0.08% legal blood alcohol limits were independent of general regional trends. METHODS: The first five states that lowered legal blood alcohol limits to 0.08% were paired with five nearby states that retained a 0.10% legal standard. Within each pair, comparisons were made for the maximum equal available number of pre- and postlaw years. RESULTS: States adopting 0.08% laws experienced 16% and 18% relative postlaw declines in the proportions of fatal crashes involving fatally injured drivers whose blood alcohol levels were 0.08% or higher and 0.15% or higher. CONCLUSIONS: It all states adopted 0.08% legal blood alcohol limits, at least 500 to 600 fewer fatal crashes would occur annually

Alcohol · Blood alcohol · Blood alcohol content · Drunk drivers · Drunk driving · Environmental health · Forensic engineering · Injury prevention · Motor vehicle crash · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Suicide prevention · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Chemistry · Engineering · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Law · Medicine · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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