The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration has compiled a statistical analysis of alcohol-related driving accidents between 1982-2005. Over the twenty year period, the number of alcohol-related car accidents has declined from 53% to 33% in car accidents involving at least one impaired driver. Holidays show the highest percentage of accidents due to drunk driving while weekdays have the lowest percentage of these types of accidents.
The report found that certain laws tended to deter alcohol-related driving. I am sure you know most of these. Georgia lowered its legal blood alcohol limit to .08 as did many other states. Laws were enacted to permit the suspension of driver's licenses for those who refuse a breath test. The minimum drinking age was raised in the 1980's by Ronald Reagan when he tied the law to federal funding of state highways. Additionally, it became illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to have a blood alcohol level of over .02. Alcohol education has worked as shown by the continued reduction in alcohol -related accidents.
