Lowering state legal blood alcohol limits to 0.08%: The effect on fatal motor vehicle crashes

R. Hingson, T. Heeren and M. Winter

American Journal of Public Health, 1996, vol. 86, issue 9, 1297-1299

Abstract: 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 preand 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. If all states adopted 0.08% legal blood alcohol limits, at least 500 to 600 lower fatal crashes would occur annually.

Date: 1996
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1996:86:9:1297-1299_0

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