PREVENTING HIGHWAY CRASHES BY RAISING THE LEGAL MINIMUM AGE FOR DRINKING: AN EMPIRICAL CONFIRMATION

In recent years there has been increased interest in reducing the massive social costs due to alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. Raising the legal minimum age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages has been proposed as one way to reduce alcohol-related crashes among young drivers. Currently, many states are raising the legal age, in contrast to the trend towards lower legal drinking ages in the early 1970s. Recent studies of the effects of raising the drinking age are reviewed, and results from a controlled multiple time-series evaluation of the experience in Michigan are presented. Significant 11 to 28% reductions in alcohol-related crash involvements are shown to be attributable to the raised drinking age in Michigan. Suggestions for further research and discussion of policy implications are included.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1800052
• Corporate Authors:

  National Safety Council

  444 North Michigan Avenue
  Chicago, IL  United States  60611
• Authors:
  • Wagenaar, A C
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 57-71
• Serial:
  • Journal of Safety Research
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-4375
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224375

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Drivers; Drunk driving; Legal drinking age; Policy; Prevention; Safety; Teenage drivers; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373908
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-034 129
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM