The Effectiveness of a New Law to Reduce Alcohol-Impaired Driving in Japan

This article reports on a research study undertaken to determine the effects of a new traffic law in Japan, implemented in June 2002, that lowered the acceptable blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The authors used police data regarding traffic fatalities and injuries for 7 months (June - December 2001) prior to the law's enforcement and for 7 months after the enforcement (June - December 2002). Results showed that after the implementation of the law, traffic fatalities decreased by 7.8%, and the traffic fatalities involving drunken driving decreased by 26.7%. The authors conclude that the new road traffic law was immediately followed by a substantial decline in fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle injuries associated with alcohol-impaired drivers, and an overall decrease in motor vehicle deaths and injuries. Thus, this new legislation is considered to be a very successful public health measure.

• Authors:
  • Takashi, Nagata
  • Hemenway, David
  • Perry, Melissa J
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 365-369
• Serial:
  • Japan Medical Association Journal
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Japan Medical Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Blood alcohol levels; Crash injuries; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Laws and legislation
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050092
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 29 2007 9:12AM