Death takes a ride. Alcohol-associated single vehicle fatalities revisited

Records from the Medical Examiner's Office of Westchester County (1980 population = 866,599) were studied for trends in blood alcohol levels in drivers who died after single vehicle accidents. Findings for all motorists (N = 102) who died in the earliest available eight-year period, 1952-1959, were compared with findings for all motorists (N = 183) who died from 1980 to 1987. The mean age of subjects in the two periods did not differ (37.3 yr +/- 15.4 SD versus 35.4 yr +/- 16.8 SD), and mean blood alcohol levels were nearly identical (0.14% +/- 0.12 SD) versus 0.13% +/- 0.12 SD). Based on the increase in vehicular miles travelled during the two periods, there may have been a 20-25% reduction in alcohol-associated mortality over a 30-year period. Following legislation raising the minimum drinking age to 21, no fatally injured drivers 20 years of age or under have had blood alcohol levels greater than or equal to 0.10%.