NCJ Number
16159
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 41 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974) Pages: 18,20-21
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A CRITICISM OF STATISTICS WHICH HAVE SHOWN INCREASED INCIDENTS OF YOUTHS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AFTER THE ADVENT OF LOWERED DRINKING AGES, CITING CHANGED REPORTING METHODS AS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THESE RESULTS.
Abstract
REPORTED RESULTS OF THE CHANGE IN DRINKING-AGE LAWS, SUCH AS INCREASED ARRESTS OF YOUTH FOR DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED (DWI), AN INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF DWI ARRESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN RELATION TO DRIVERS IN ALL OTHER AGE GROUPS, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ALCOHOL-INVOLVED ACCIDENTS IN THIS AGE GROUP, AND AN INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF YOUTHFUL DRIVERS KILLED WITH HIGH BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS (BAC) IN THEIR SYSTEMS ARE CITED. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT EACH OF THESE REPORTED RESULTS IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT A CHANGE IN DRINKING BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF YOUNG DRIVERS. CHANGES IN POLICE REPORTING POLICIES, IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS FOR YOUTHFUL AND OLDER DRIVERS, IN DEMANDS FOR INFORMATION ON ALCOHOL USE BY ALL DRIVERS, AND THE CORONER'S POLICY OF TESTING FOR BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION COULD ALL FALSELY AFFECT THE REPORTED LEVELS OF DWI AND ALCOHOL-RELATED ACCIDENTS FOR YOUTH. METHODS TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN DRINKING-AGE LAWS ARE INCLUDED.