Citation

Nagata T, Hemenway DA, Perry MJ. Jpn. Med. Assn. J. JMAJ 2006; 49(11-12): 365-369.

Affiliation

Harvard School of Public health, Boston, MA, USA. (nagata.takashi@gmail.com)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Japan Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the impact of a new traffic law targeting alcohol-impaired driving in Japan.

Methods: Japan passed a new traffic law in June 2002 with the aim of reducing the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving by reducing the permissible blood alcohol level and increasing penalties. Using data collected from police reports, the number of traffic fatalities and injuries for 7 months in the pre-law period (June 2001 to December 2001) and the same 7 months in the post-law period (June 2002 to December 2002) were compared.

Results: Traffic fatalities decreased 7.8 percent and traffic fatalities involving alcohol-impared driving decreased 26.7 percent after the introduction of the new traffic law. Traffic fatalities had been declining since 1993, but fell substantially faster after the law was passed.

Conclusions: This study indicates that large, immediate public health benefits resulted from the implementation of the 2002 alcohol-imjpared driving law in Japan.