ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT ON TRAFFIC SAFETY OF LOWERING THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE IN ILLINOIS

This report draws a firmer connection between the change in the minimum drinking age from 21 to 19 for beer and wine, and the probable effect on fatal accidents in Illinois. Accident data for several states with different minimum drinking ages were compared with Illinois. The states used for comparison were grouped according to their legal drinking age. Tabulated data is presented for drivers involved in fatal accidents by age and state for 1975, driver age by state for all single vehicle accidents involving only male drivers, licensed drivers by age and state, and the relationship of the observed frequency of driver age to the expected frequency of driver age. The study concluded that the reduction in the minimum drinking age has a definite negative effect on Illinois traffic safety by increasing fatalities and causing serious injury and property damage as well. The experience of states that have lowered their legal drinking age is similar to that of Illinois. Despite the increases in fatal accidents among the younger drivers that can be connected to alcohol, the problem is by no means limited to the younger drivers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Division of Traffic Safety, 2300 South Dirksen Parkway
  Springfield, IL  United States  62764
• Publication Date: 1977-11

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Data analysis; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Injuries; Laws; Loss and damage; Mathematical analysis; Property; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age; Property damage
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173230
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM