Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reducing illegal blood alcohol limits for driving: effects on traffic safety

  • Chapter
Drugs, Driving and Traffic Safety

Abstract

This chapter provides a scientific review of the evidence regarding the benefits of reducing the illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving. Numerous independent studies in the United States indicate that lowering the illegal BAC limit from 0.10 to 0.08 g/dL has resulted in 5 to 16 % reductions in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities, or injuries. The illegal limit is 0.05 BAC in numerous countries around the world and several international studies indicate that lowering the illegal per se limit from 0.08 to 0.05 g/dL BAC also reduces alcohol-related fatalities. Laboratory studies indicate that impairment in critical driving functions begins at low BACs and that most subjects are significantly impaired at 0.05 g/dL BAC. The relative risk of being involved in a fatal crash as a driver is four to 10 times greater for drivers with BACs between 0.05 and 0.07 g/dL compared to drivers with 0.00 g/dL BACs. There is strong evidence in the literature that lowering the BAC limit from 0.10 to 0.08 g/dL is effective, that lowering the BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05 is effective, that lowering the limit from 0.05 to 0.03 or 0.02 g/dL is effective, and that lowering the BAC limit for youth to any measurable amount of alcohol is effective. These law changes serve as a general deterrent to drinking and driving and ultimately save lives. This critical review supports the adoption of lower illegal BAC limits for driving in countries around the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ferrara SD, Zancaner S, Georgetti R (1994) Low blood alcohol levels and driving impairment. A review of experimental studies and international legislation. International Journal of Legal Medicine 106

    Google Scholar 

  2. Moskowitz H, Fiorentino D (2000, April) A review of the literature on the effects of low doses of alcohol on driving-related skills. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 809 028)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Moskowitz H, Burns M, Fiorentino D, Smiley A, Zador P (2000, August) Driver characteristics and impairment at various BACs. Southern California Research Institute, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 809 075)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zador PL, Krawchuk SA, Voas RB (2000) Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvement in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: An update using 1996 data. J Stud Alcohol 61: 387–395

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Compton RP, Blomberg RD, Moskowitz H, Burns M, Peck RC, Fiorentino D (2002) Crash risk of alcohol impaired driving. In DR Mayhew, C Dussault (eds.): Proceedings of Alcohol, Drugs & Traffic Safety-T 2002: 16th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs & Traffic Safety, August 4–9, 2002. International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS), Montreal, Canada, 39–44

    Google Scholar 

  6. Blomberg RD, Peck RC, Moskowitz H, Burns M, Fiorentino D (2005) Crash risk of alcohol involved driving: A case-control study. Dunlap & Associates, Inc., Stanford, CT

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chamberlain E, Solomon R (2002) The case for a 0.05 % criminal law blood-alcohol concentration limit for driving. Inj Prev 8: iii1–iii17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Holder H, Flay B, Howard J, Boyd G, Voas RB, Grossman M (1999) Phases of alcohol problem prevention research. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 23: 183–194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shults RA, Elder RW, Sleet DA, Nichols JL, Alao MO, Carande-Kulis VG, Zaza S, Sosin DM, Thompson RS, Task Force on Community Preventive Services (2001) Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. Am J Prev Med 21: 66–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. 10 General Accounting Office (GAO) (1999, June) Report to congressional committees on highway safety: Effectiveness of state.08 blood alcohol laws. U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (GAO/RCED-99-179)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M (2000) Effects of recent 0.08 % legal blood alcohol limits on fatal crash involvement. Inj Prev 6: 109–114

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Foss RD, Stewart JR, Reinfurt DW (1999) Evaluation of the Effects of North Carolina’s 0.08 % BAC Law. U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 808 893)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Apsler R, Char AR, Harding WM, Klein TM (1999, March) The effects of.08 BAC laws. U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 808 892)

    Google Scholar 

  14. 14 Research and Evaluation Associates (REA) (1991) The effects following the implementation of an 0.08 BAC limit and an administrative per se law in California. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 807 777)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rogers PN (1995) The General Deterrence Impact of California’s 0.08 % Blood Alcohol Concentration Limit and Administrative Per Se License Suspension Laws. In RC Peck (ed.): California Department of Motor Vehicles Research Studies: A Summary of Findings and Conclusions. California Department of Motor Vehicles, Sacramento, CA

    Google Scholar 

  16. Voas RB, Tippetts AS, Fell JC (2000) The relationship of alcohol safety laws to drinking drivers in fatal crashes. Accid Anal Prev 32: 483–492

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wagenaar A, Maldonado-Molina M, Ma L, Tobler A, Komro K (2007) Effects of legal BAC limits on fatal crash involvement: Analyses of 28 states from 1976 through 2002. J Safety Res 38: 493–499

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tippetts AS, Voas RB, Fell JC, Nichols JL (2005) A meta-analysis of.08 BAC laws in 19 jurisdictions in the United States. Accid Anal Prev 37: 149–161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bernat DH, Dunsmuir WTM, Wagenaar AC (2004) Effects of lowering the legal BAC to 0.08 on single-vehicle-nighttime fatal traffic crashes in 19 jurisdictions. Accid Anal Prev 36: 1089–1097

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Moskowitz H, Robinson C (1988) Effects of low doses of alcohol on driving-related skills: A review of the evidence. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 807 280)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Johnson D, Fell JC (1995) The impact of lowering the illegal BAC limit to.08 in five states in the U.S. In: 39th Annual Proceedings for the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, October 16–18, 1995. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Chicago, IL, 45–64

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M (1996) Lowering state legal blood alcohol limits to 0.08 percent: The effect on fatal motor vehicle crashes. Am J Public Health 86: 1297–1299

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zador PK, Lund AK, Field M, Weinberg K (1988) Alcohol-impaired driving laws and fatal crash involvement. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  24. Klein TM (1989) Changes in alcohol-involved fatal crashes associated with tougher state alcohol legislation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 807 511)

    Google Scholar 

  25. DuMouchel W, Williams AF, Zador P (1987) Raising the alcohol purchase age: Its effects on fatal motor vehicle crashes in 26 states. J Legal Studies 16: 249–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Voas RB, Tippetts AS (1999, September) The relationship of alcohol safety laws to drinking drivers in fatal crashes. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 808 980)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Dee TS (2001) Does setting limits save lives? The case of 0.08 BAC Laws. J Policy Anal Manage 20: 111–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Eisenberg D (2001) Evaluating the effectiveness of a 0.08 % BAC limit and other policies related to drunk driving. Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kerr W, Greenfield T, Midanik LT (2006) How many drinks does it take you to feel drunk? Trends and predictors for subjective drunkenness. Addiction 101: 1428–1437

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Gorman DM, Huber Jr. CJ, Carozza SE (2006) Evaluation of the Texas 0.08 BAC law. Alcohol Alcohol 41: 193–199

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Voas RB, Taylor EP, Kelley Baker T, Tippetts AS (2000, December) Effectiveness of the Illinois.08 law. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (Final Report DOT HS 809 186)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Voas RB, Tippetts AS, Taylor EP (2001, December) Effectiveness of the Illinois.08 law: An update with the 1999 FARS data. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (Final Report DOT HS 809 382)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Noordzij PC (1994) Decline in drinking and driving in the Netherlands. Transportation Research Circular 422: 44–49

    Google Scholar 

  34. Mercier-Guyon C. Lowering the BAC limit to 0.05: Results of the French experience. In: Transportation Research Board 77th Annual Meeting, Jan 11-15, 1998; 1998; Washington, DC; 1998

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bartl G, Esberger R (2000) Effects of lowering the legal BAC limit in Austria. In H Laurell, F Schlyter (eds.): Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T’2000; May 22–26, 2000. International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS), Stockholm, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  36. Homel R (1994) Drink-driving law enforcement and the legal blood alcohol limit in New South Wales. Accid Anal Prev 26: 147–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Henstridge J, Homel R, Mackay P (1995) The long-term effects of random breath testing in Adelaide. In CN Kloeden, AJ McLean (eds.): Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T’95, Aug 13–18, 1995. International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS), Adelaide, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  38. Smith DI (1988) Effect on traffic safety of introducing a 0.05 % blood alcohol level in Queensland, Australia. Medicine, Science and Law 28: 165–170

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kloeden CN, McLean AJ (1994) Late night drink driving in Adelaide two years after the Introduction of the.05 limit. NHMRC Road Accident Research Unit, Adelaide, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  40. McLean AJ, Kloeden CN, McColl RA, Laslett R (1995) Reduction in the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05: Effects on drink driving and alcohol-related crashes in Adelaide. In AJ McLean, CN Kloeden (eds.): Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T:95.; August 13–18, 1995. NHMRC Road Accident Research Unit, Adelaide, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  41. Brooks C, Zaal D (1992) Effects of a 0.05 Alcohol Limit in the Australian Capital Territory. Federal Office of Road Safety MR 10, Canberra, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  42. Simpson HM, Mayhew DR, Beirness DJ (1996) Dealing with the hard core drinking driver. Traffic Injury Research Foundation, Ottawa, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  43. Deshapriya E, Iwase N (1998) Impact of the 1970 legal BAC 0.05 mg % limit legislation on drunk-driver-involved traffic fatalities, accidents, and DWI in Japan. Journal of Substance Use & Misuse 33: 2757–2788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Bernhoft I, Behrensdorff I (2003) Effect of lowering the alcohol limit in Denmark. Accid Anal Prev 35: 515–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Norström T, Laurell H (1997) Effects of lowering the legal BAC-limit in Sweden. In C Mercier-Guyon (ed.): Proceedings of the14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T’97; Sep 21-26, 1997. Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches en Médecine du Trafic, Annecy, France, 87–94

    Google Scholar 

  46. Borschos B (2000) An evaluation of the Swedish drunken driving legislation implemented on February 1, 1994. In H Laurell, F Schlyter (eds.): International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T’2000; May 22-26, 2000. International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS), Stockholm, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  47. Ediriweera D, Shimizu S, Pike I, Smith DE (2006) Impact of lowering the legal BAC limit to.03 on teenage drinking and driving related crashes in Japan. Japanese Journal of Alcohol and Drug Dependence 41: 513–527

    Google Scholar 

  48. Nagata T, Setoguchi S, Hemenway D, Perry M (2008) Effectiveness of a law to reduce alcohol-impaired driving in Japan. In j Prev 14: 19–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Howat P, Sleet D, Smith I (1991) Alcohol and driving: Is the 0.05 % blood alcohol concentration limit justified? Drug and Alcohol Review 10: 151–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Lacey JH, Jones RK, Wiliszowski CH (2000, June) Zero-tolerance laws for youth: Four states’ experience. U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 809 053)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Blomberg RD (1992) Lower BAC limits for youth: Evaluation of the Maryland.02 law. U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 806 807)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Hingson R, Howland J, Heeren T, Winter M (1992) Reduced BAC limits for young people (impact on night fatal) crashes. Alcohol Drugs Driving 7: 117–127

    Google Scholar 

  53. Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M (1994) Lower legal blood alcohol limits for young drivers. Public Health Rep 109: 739–744

    Google Scholar 

  54. Zwerling C, Jones MP (1999) Evaluation of the effectiveness of low blood alcohol concentration laws for younger drivers. Am J Prev Med 16: 76–80

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Wagenaar AC, O’Malley PM, LaFond C (2001) Lowered legal blood alcohol limits for young drivers: Effects on drinking, driving, and driving-after-drinking behaviors in 30 states. Am J Public Health 91: 801–804

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Voas RB, Tippetts AS, Fell J (2003) Assessing the effectiveness of minimum legal drinking age and zero tolerance laws in the United States. Accid Anal Prev 35: 579–587

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Jones RK, Rodriguez-Igelsias C (2004, December) Evaluation of lower BAC limits for convicted OUI offenders in Maine. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC (DOT HS 809 827)

    Google Scholar 

  58. Sun SW, Kahn DM, Swan KG (1998) Lowering the legal blood alcohol level for motorcyclists. Accid Anal Prev 30: 133–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Royal D (2000) National survey of drinking and driving: Attitudes and behavior: 1999. In: Findings. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  60. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (1994, October) Computing a BAC estimate. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  61. Mann RE, Macdonald S, Stoduto G, Bondy S, Shaikh A (1998) Assessing the potential impact of lowering the legal blood alcohol limit to 50 mg % in Canada. Transport Canada, Ottawa, Canada (TR 13321 E. Transport)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Mann RE, Macdonald S, Stoduto G, Bondy S, Jonah B, Shaikh A (2001) The effects of introducing or lowering legal per se blood alcohol limits for driving: an international review. Accid Anal Prev 33: 569–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Moore MH, Gerstein DR, (eds.) (1981) Alcohol and public policy: Beyond the shadow of prohibition. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  64. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1987) Handbook for evaluating drug and alcohol prevention programs: Staff/team evaluation of prevention programs. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD

    Google Scholar 

  65. Transportation Research Board (1987) Zero alcohol and other options. Limits for truck and bus drivers. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, DC (Special Report 216)

    Google Scholar 

  66. World Health Organization (WHO). World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention. World Health Organization, Available at: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention (accessed October, 2004)

    Google Scholar 

  67. Fell JC, Voas R (2006) The effectiveness of reducing illegal blood alcohol concentration limits for driving: evidence for lowering the limit to.05 BAC. J Safety Res 37: 233–243

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 900, Calverton, MD, 20705-3111, USA

    James C. Fell & Robert B. Voas

Authors
  1. James C. Fell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert B. Voas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Utrecht University Faculty of Science Section Psychopharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, P.O. Box 80082, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Joris C. Verster

  2. Somnogen Inc., 8790 112th Street, New York, NY, 11418, USA

    S. R. Pandi-Perumal

  3. Experimental Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Johannes G. Ramaekers

  4. Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Johan J. de Gier

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Birkhäuser Verlag/Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fell, J.C., Voas, R.B. (2009). Reducing illegal blood alcohol limits for driving: effects on traffic safety. In: Verster, J.C., Pandi-Perumal, S.R., Ramaekers, J.G., de Gier, J.J. (eds) Drugs, Driving and Traffic Safety. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-9923-8_26

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation