DUI, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Outlets

• In Event: Buying Drugs and Alcohol

Abstract

Despite considerable efforts to prevent alcohol impaired driving, a substantial portion of the public choose to drive while under the influence of alcohol. As a result, each year thousands of people are fatally injured in alcohol related automobile crashes. Prior research indicates much of the drinking involved in these crashes originates in alcohol outlets. This study utilizes data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which is compiled and maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to develop measures of alcohol and non-alcohol related fatal crashes (NHTSA, 2013). The data is then combined with data on DUI arrests, high traffic roads, and the placement of alcohol outlets to examine the influence of the placement of alcohol outlets on fatal crashes.

Authors

• Richard Stringer, Old Dominion University

• Randy Gainey, Old Dominion University

• Garland White, Old Dominion University

• Ruth Triplett, Old Dominion University