Effect of alcohol-related laws on deaths due to the motor vehicle and motorcycle crashes in the United States, 1980-1997

Context. Alcohol-related crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States. Many states have passed laws to reduce the likelihood that individuals will drink and drive.;Objective. To use national data to estimate the effects of selected driving while drinking laws on all fatal traffic crashes, automobile crashes, motorcycle crashes, and alcohol-related crashes for each of these vehicle categories.;Design. Interrupted time series study for longitudinal data.;Setting. The United States from 1980 through 1997.;Participants. The population of the United States.;Main outcome measure. Motor vehicle and motorcycle mortality rates during periods when the laws were in effect were compared with mortality rates during periods when the laws were not in effect; our estimates were based on comparisons within states and a pooled estimate between states over a period of 18 years.;Results. There were 792,184 deaths due to traffic crashes; rate 17.4 per 100,000 person-years. During this period, an estimated 26% of fatalities were attributable to alcohol use. An estimated 49% of motorcycle fatalities were attributable to alcohol use. The incidence of alcohol-related mortality due to traffic crashes was lower during periods when BAC 0.08 g/dl per se laws were in effect 0.86 (0.83--0.88) for all motor vehicles, 0.87 (0.84--0.89) for automobiles, and 0.87 (0.79--0.95) for motorcycles The incidence of alcohol-related mortality due to traffic crashes was also lower during periods when zero tolerance laws, administrative license revocation laws, and mandatory jail sentencing for first drunk driving convictions laws were in effect; 0.88 (95% CI 0.86--0.90), 0.95 (95% CI 0.94--0.96), and 0.95 (95% CI 0.93--0.98) respectively. Allowing police to conduct sobriety checkpoints was not associated with a reduction in alcohol-related traffic crashes.;Conclusion. Our results support recent policy measures that set a national level of 0.08mg/dl for BAC levels. Other policies such as administrative license revocation and zero tolerance laws are useful in reducing alcohol-related traffic deaths.