Citation

Naor EM, Nashold RD. J. Saf. Res. 1975; 7(2): 74-79.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Data accumulated over six years through the mandatory Wisconsin program for blood-alcohol testing of traffic fatalities were analyzed to determine the effect of reduction in the legal drinking age. No significant increase in alcohol-involved traffic fatalities among youthful drivers was found following the change from availability of beer or only to state wide availability of all alcoholic beverages at age 18. Approximately 60% of all tested driver for talent is aged 18 to 20 had appreciable blood alcohol concentrations (0.05 or greater percent), and disproportion remained substantially the same throughout the study period, 1968-1973. Alcohol involvement among 18-20 year-old victims tested less frequent than those aged 21 to 44. There was no evidence that small blood alcohol concentrations enhanced the likelihood of fatal accidents in youth more than in older persons.