Female drinking and driving: recent trends in North Carolina

Area of Science:

• Traffic Safety
• Epidemiology
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Increasing rates of women drivers
• Historical data on impaired driving trends
• Gender disparities in alcohol-related incidents

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze trends in drinking and driving among women in North Carolina (mid-70s to mid-80s)
• Examine changes in driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and alcohol-related (A/R) crashes
• Compare trends between male and female drivers

Main Methods:

• Analysis of state-level data on driver licensing, DUI arrests, crashes, and fatalities
• Calculation of rates per licensed driver
• Longitudinal trend analysis over a decade

Main Results:

• Women's DUI arrest rates increased 43% while men's decreased 9%
• Proportion of legally intoxicated female drivers and alcohol-related crashes is rising
• Alcohol-related fatalities decreased for men but not for women

Conclusions:

• Women are increasingly involved in drinking and driving incidents
• Projected rise in female DUI arrests and alcohol-related crashes
• Need for targeted education, enforcement, and rehabilitation programs for women