Lowered legal blood alcohol limits for young drivers: effects on drinking, driving, and driving-after-drinking behaviors in 30 states.

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the effects on drinking and driving of lowered allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for drivers younger than 21 years in 30 US states between 1984 and 1998. METHODS Outcome measures were based on self-reports from a cross-sectional sample of more than 5000 high school seniors in 30 states surveyed before and after BAC limits were implemented in their states. RESULTS Frequency of driving after any drinking and driving after 5 or more drinks declined 19% and 23%, respectively. Lower BAC limits did not affect overall amount of drinking or total number of miles driven. CONCLUSIONS Significant beneficial effects of lowered youth BAC limits have appeared despite limited publicity and enforcement of the new laws.

[1]  Trevillore E. Raghunathan,et al.  IVEware: Imputation and Variance Estimation Software User Guide , 2002 .

[2]  D. Royal.  NATIONAL SURVEY OF DRINKING AND DRIVING. , 2000 .

[3]  Patrick M. O'Malley,et al.  National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-1998. Volume I: Secondary School Students. , 1999 .

[4]  L. Johnston,et al.  Drinking and driving among US high school seniors, 1984-1997. , 1999, American journal of public health.

[5]  C. Zwerling,et al.  Evaluation of the effectiveness of low blood alcohol concentration laws for younger drivers. , 1999, American journal of preventive medicine.

[6]  D. Balmforth.  National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behavior : 1997 , 1998 .

[7]  A F Hoskin,et al.  ACCIDENT FACTS. 1998 EDITION , 1998 .

[8]  L. Johnston,et al.  The Motoring the Future Project after Twenty-Two Years: Design and Procedures. Monitoring the Future Occasional Paper No. 38. [Update]. , 1996 .

[9]  A C Wagenaar,et al.  Methods used in studies of drink-drive control efforts: a meta-analysis of the literature from 1960 to 1991. , 1995, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[10]  L. Johnston.  National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-1994. Volume 1, Secondary School Students and Volume II, College Students and Young Adults. , 1995 .

[11]  T. Heeren,et al.  Lower legal blood alcohol limits for young drivers. , 1994, Public health reports.

[12]  R. Dupont.  Confronting Drunk Driving: Social Policy for Saving Lives , 1993 .

[13]  R D Blomberg,et al.  LOWER BAC LIMITS FOR YOUTH: EVALUATION OF THE MARYLAND .02 LAW , 1992 .

[14]  Ralph Hingson,et al.  Effects of Maine's 1982 .02 law to reduce teenage driving after drinking , 1989 .

[15]  D I Smith.  Effect of Low Proscribed Blood Alcohol Levels (BALs) on Traffic Accidents among Newly-Licensed Drivers , 1986, Medicine, science, and the law.