NCJ Number
113408
Journal
Alcohol, Drugs and Driving Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1988) Pages: 87-98
Date Published
1988
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the nature and effect of recent laws throughout the United States designed to reduce drunk driving and related fatalities among juvenile drivers.
Abstract
From 1980 to 1985, some 400 local chapters of citizens groups concerned about drunk driving were founded nationwide, media coverage of the problem increased exponentially, and over 500 legislative changes were made to reduce fatal vehicle crashes caused by drunk drivers. The most common laws enacted involved increases in the legal drinking age and per se legislation to increase convictions. Forty-nine States have raised the legal drinking age to 21, and over 30 States passed per se laws, bringing the national total to over 40. Drinking-age increases have been credited with 10-15-percent declines in fatal crashes in the targeted age groups, but effects vary from State to State, and teens have found ways to circumvent these laws. Per se laws have not been extensively studied. International experience suggests these laws can produce short-term fatal-crash reductions, but inadequate police and court enforcement of these laws compromises long-term reduction in drunk driving and related fatal crashes. This proved to be the result of Maine's 1981 per se law. From 1980 to 1985, fatal crashes nationwide involving drunk drivers declined more than other fatal crashes, especially among young drivers. Media attention to drunk driving, formation of new citizen groups, and new drunk driving laws peaked between 1983 and 1985. From 1985 to 1986, alcohol-related traffic fatalities increased 7 percent among all age groups and 14 percent among youth aged 15-17. Other traffic fatalities rose only 3 percent. 2 tables, 9 figures, 25 references. (Publisher abstract modified)