THE IMPACT OF MASSACHUSETTS' REDUCED DRINKING AGE ON AUTO ACCIDENTS

The effect of Massachusetts' reduced drinking age on auto accidents is examined by employing an interrupted time series analysis of monthly accident data covering the period January 1969 through September 1973. These raw data were adjusted using monthly mileage and seasonal indices or where possible, a control group not affected by the drinking law. Correlograms of the adjusted series were computed to check for remaining systematic bias. Finally, the average accident rates for the adjusted, well-behaved series before and after the March 1973 change were compared using standard t-tests. Accidents rates among 18-20 year olds did increase significantly--about 40% for involvement in fatalities. Nevertheless, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that, as a result of the reduced drinking age, 18-20 year old driving-after-drinking behavior has become comparable to that of older drivers. /Author/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by National Science Foundation, MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, and Army Research Office.
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Maxwell House, Fairview Park
  Elmsford, NY  United States  10523
• Authors:
  • Ferreira, J
  • Sicherman, A
• Publication Date: 1976-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 229-239
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Crash rates; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; T test; Time series analysis; Traffic crashes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148747
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council
• Contract Numbers: NSF GI 38004, DA HC04-73-0032
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1977 12:00AM