Lowering the legal alcohol limits for driving
Expected changes in the prevalence of positive tests
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21481965 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Manuela Alcañiz (0000-0002-5028-1926, Barcelona School of Economics, corresponding author), Montserrat Guillén (0000-0002-2644-6268, Barcelona School of Economics), Miguel Santolino (0000-0002-0286-3673, Barcelona School of Economics) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Pages | 102463 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Gaceta Sanitaria (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0213-9111 • E-ISSN: 1578-1283 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.gaceta.2025.102463 |
| PMID | 39999650 |
| OpenAlex | W4407872900 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
To estimate the increase in the prevalence rate of drivers testing positive for alcohol when lowering the breath alcohol content (BrAC) limit from 0.25 to 0.10 mg/l. A cross-sectional study using a sample of 8320 breath tests from a mandatory roadside random survey conducted on interurban roads in Catalonia in 2019. The percentage of drivers with a BrAC >0.10 mg/L was 3.8% (95%CI: 3.2-4.4), more than twice the percentage with a BrAC >0.25 mg/L (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2-2.0). Males (4.0%, 95%CI: 3.3-4.6 vs. 1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2-2.0) and those aged over 65 years (4.3%, 95%CI: 2.2-6.4. vs. 0.8%, 95%CI: 0.2-1.5) are particularly impacted by the alcohol limit reduction. This study identifies the groups likely to be most affected by a reduction of the legal BrAC limit, highlighting the need for targeted awareness campaigns on the risks of drinking and driving. Estimar el aumento en la prevalencia de conductores positivos en alcohol al reducir el límite permitido de alcohol en aire espirado (AAE) de 0,25 a 0,10 mg/l. Estudio transversal utilizando una muestra aleatoria de 8320 pruebas de alcoholemia obligatorias realizadas en carreteras interurbanas de Cataluña en 2019. El porcentaje de conductores con AAE >0,10 mg/l fue del 3,8% (IC95%: 3,2-4,4), más del doble del porcentaje con AAE >0,25 mg/l (1,6%, IC95%: 1,2-2,0). Los hombres (4,0%, IC95%: 3,3-4,6 vs. 1,6%, IC95%: 1,2-2,0) y los mayores de 65 años (4,3%, IC95%: 2,2-6,4 vs. 0,8%, IC95%: 0,2-1,5) resultan particularmente afectados por la reducción del límite de alcohol. Se identifican los grupos más sensibles a la reducción del límite legal de AAE, destacando la necesidad de campañas de concienciación específicas sobre los riesgos de beber y conducir
Alcohol · Environmental health · Injury prevention · Poison control · Sociology · Statistics · Suicide prevention · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Chemistry · Demography · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
| Highly cited | No |
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