Alcohol impairs the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and the risk of a crash increases as the driver’s blood alcohol concentration increases. Although impairment begins at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 g/dL, 0.08 g/dL is now the per se legal limit in all states except Colorado, Delaware, and Minnesota. Driving with a higher blood alcohol concentration is considered "driving under the influence" ("driving while intoxicated" in some states). Because younger drivers are particularly at risk for the effects of alcohol, every state has zero tolerance for any alcohol in drivers younger than 21 years of age. Although there was a significant decline previously, the fatality rate for alcohol-related crashes (per vehicle mile driven) has been flat since 1996. According to 2002 data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, alcohol was involved in 41% of fatal crashes, in 35% of all fatal crashes at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 g/dL, and alcohol was involved in more than 50% of fatal crashes occurring between 9 PM and 6 AM. Zero tolerance has slowed but not stopped underage drinking and driving. In 2002, police reported that 1,259 drivers aged 15 to 20 years who were involved in fatal crashes had alcohol on board. Of the 2,763 occupants present in those vehicles at the time of the crash, 1,230 (44.5%) died. For those of us on the front lines, this is not new news. The direct effects of the increased crash risk from alcohol are visible daily in emergency departments (EDs) across the country. (Author/publisher)
Abstract