In a 1992 report to Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommended that all states lower the illegal BAC level to .08% for drivers 21 and older

In 1999, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report stated there was insufficient evidence that 0.08 BAC laws alone resulted in reductions in number or severity of alcohol-related crashes

Case Study–Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Background

Following the 1999 GAO report, the bill failed to pass

CDC and the Task Force on Community Preventive Services began a systematic review of the effectiveness of .08% BAC laws

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future

GAO, general accounting office

In 2000, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services conducted a systematic review

Determined that reducing the BAC level from 0.10% to 0.08% would result in a median 7% decline in alcohol-related automobile fatalities, saving an estimated 400-600 lives every year

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, the CDC Task Force communicated the findings and recommendations of its systematic review demonstrating the impact of a .08% BAC law to partners and policy makers

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In 2000, Congress approved, and President Clinton signed the bill requiring states to enact the 0.08% law

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future

By 2004, 4 years after enacting the Bill, all 50 states had .08% BAC laws

Between 2006 and 2010, self-reported drinking and driving episodes declined from 161 million/year to 112 million/year

In 2006, alcohol-impaired driving deaths were 13,491 and had declined to 10,839 by 2009

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future

Support and promote further reductions in alcohol-impaired crashes and injuries through alcohol ignition interlocks, alcohol checkpoints, and further reductions of BAC

Case Study Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Disseminating

Science

Creating Awareness

Catalyzing Action

Effecting Change

Shaping the Future