A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that stronger alcohol policies could help to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents each year, and save a number of lives in the process.
There have been a number of policies pitched at both to local and national level to curb drunk driving in America, but there haven’t been many studies to chart their effectiveness. That was the aim of the new study by researchers at Boston University and Boston Medical Center.
For their study, researchers looked at traffic accident information and what restrictive policies each state had on the books in regards to access to alcohol. They analyzed 29 specific factors like when alcohol sales end each day, the alcohol sales tax in each state, required ignition interlocks for first time offenders and much more.
After looking at the data, researchers found that for every one percent increase in restrictiveness of alcohol policies there was a one percent reduction in the number of alcohol-related crashes. Moreover, a ten percent increase in policy restrictiveness would result in 800 fewer traffic fatalities each year.
“Given the risks involved with alcohol use, strengthening alcohol control policies could help prevent many crash deaths, including the 40 percent of deaths that affect victims who are not themselves driving while intoxicated,” said Timothy Naimi, the study’s lead author. “Although not reflected in our current laws, the risk of crashes starts to increase at BAC levels well below 0.08 percent, so stronger policies offer a way to reduce those deaths as well.”
It seems unlikely that the United States will try to shift to a system where the legal driving limit is lowered to 0.05 or some other number, but it is encouraging to see that certain restrictive policies have been effective.
If you've been drinking, please don't drive. Call a friend, cab, Uber, or stay where you are until you're sure you're sober. It's not worth hurting or killing yourself or someone else. In addition, New Jersey has tough DUI laws, including mandatory jail under certain circumstances and, unlike some states, NO WORK LICENSE, during the period of suspension.
If you've made the mistake of driving while intoxicated and have been charged, call me for a free consultation. With over 25 years experience successfully representing people charged with DUI, I'll explain the charges and how I can help you.
All the Best!
RANDY C. REDDEN
(856) 448-6200
There have been a number of policies pitched at both to local and national level to curb drunk driving in America, but there haven’t been many studies to chart their effectiveness. That was the aim of the new study by researchers at Boston University and Boston Medical Center.
For their study, researchers looked at traffic accident information and what restrictive policies each state had on the books in regards to access to alcohol. They analyzed 29 specific factors like when alcohol sales end each day, the alcohol sales tax in each state, required ignition interlocks for first time offenders and much more.
After looking at the data, researchers found that for every one percent increase in restrictiveness of alcohol policies there was a one percent reduction in the number of alcohol-related crashes. Moreover, a ten percent increase in policy restrictiveness would result in 800 fewer traffic fatalities each year.
“Given the risks involved with alcohol use, strengthening alcohol control policies could help prevent many crash deaths, including the 40 percent of deaths that affect victims who are not themselves driving while intoxicated,” said Timothy Naimi, the study’s lead author. “Although not reflected in our current laws, the risk of crashes starts to increase at BAC levels well below 0.08 percent, so stronger policies offer a way to reduce those deaths as well.”
It seems unlikely that the United States will try to shift to a system where the legal driving limit is lowered to 0.05 or some other number, but it is encouraging to see that certain restrictive policies have been effective.
If you've been drinking, please don't drive. Call a friend, cab, Uber, or stay where you are until you're sure you're sober. It's not worth hurting or killing yourself or someone else. In addition, New Jersey has tough DUI laws, including mandatory jail under certain circumstances and, unlike some states, NO WORK LICENSE, during the period of suspension.
If you've made the mistake of driving while intoxicated and have been charged, call me for a free consultation. With over 25 years experience successfully representing people charged with DUI, I'll explain the charges and how I can help you.
All the Best!
RANDY C. REDDEN
(856) 448-6200
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