RAISING ALCOHOL PURCHASHING AGE: ITS EFFECTS ON FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES IN 26 STATES

The study is reported which assessed the longer term effects of raising the alcohol purchase age, and inlcuded states that have enacted such legislation. The data available for this study inlcude the years 1975-1984; 26 states that changed their laws during this period were studied. The study also investigated the effect of the legislation on 'beginning' drinkers of different ages. The study was based on drivers of ages 16-24 who were in fatal crashes during the years 1975-1984 in the 48 states that comprise the continental United States. The data were extracted from the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS). The study confirmed the results of earlier work indicating that raising the legal minimum age for purchasing alcoholic beverages reduces fatal crash involvement among youthful drivers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Authors:
  • DuMouchel, W
  • Williams, A F
  • Zador, P
• Publication Date: 1985-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Fatalities; Highway safety; Impact studies; Laws; Legal drinking age; Purchasing; Traffic crashes
• Identifier Terms: Fatal Accident Reporting System
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495764
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 659
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1990 12:00AM