Epidemiology and consequences of drinking and driving.
Alcohol is a major factor in traffic crashes, and crashes involving alcohol are more likely to result in injuries and deaths than crashes where alcohol is not a factor. Increasing blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) have been linked to increased crash risk. Male drivers, particularly those ages 22 to 45; people with drinking problems and prior drinking and driving convictions; and drivers who do not wear safety belts are disproportionately likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes. Alcohol-dependent people are over-represented in all alcohol-related traffic crashes, as are those who begin drinking at younger ages. Though there are more than 82 million drinking-driving trips in a given year at BACs of 0.08 percent and higher (and 10 percent of drinking-driving trips are at BACs of 0.08 percent and higher), there are only 1.5 million arrests for drinking and driving each year. Despite overall marked reductions in alcohol-related traffic deaths since the early 1980s, there has been little reduction since the mid-1990s, and alcohol-related traffic deaths have increased slightly in the past 3 years.
Hingson
Ralph
R
Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Winter
Michael
M
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000431:Ethanol