Publications

Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019

This study compares motor vehicle crash death rates (by three rate types) in the United States (U.S.) with 28 other high-income countries in 2015 and 2019. The U.S. fared worse than most other high-income countries on most metrics. Among other public health actions, the report highlights how 26 of the 29 countries in the study have blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws set at ≤0.05 grams per deciliter (g/dL). These laws are effective for reducing crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers and deaths from these crashes. In contrast, 49 U.S. states and D.C. have a BAC limit of 0.08 g/dL. Utah implemented a 0.05 g/dL BAC law in late 2018, and an evaluation found that the law was associated with substantial reductions in crashes, alcohol-involved crashes, and deaths per mile driven. BAC laws set at 0.05 g/dL could help the U.S. to reduce alcohol-impaired driving deaths and achieve lower crash death rates similar to other high-income countries.

Alcohol-impaired driving among adults — USA, 2014–2018

1.7% of adults in the United States engaged in alcohol-impaired driving during the past 30 days in 2018; this percentage was 1.7% in 2014 and 2.1% in 2016. The majority of episodes of alcohol-impaired driving were among men and adults who recently binge drank. Proven strategies to reduce alcohol-impaired driving exist at the population-level and in primary care settings.

Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana and Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 2018

12 million Americans ages 16 and older drove under the influence of marijuana during the past 12 months and 2.3 million drove under the influence of illicit drugs other than marijuana during the past 12 months in 2018. Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a serious public health concern that needs to be better addressed to safeguard the health and safety of everyone on the road.

• Barry V, Schumacher A, Sauber-Schatz E. Alcohol-impaired driving among adults—USA, 2014–2018. Inj Prev. 2022;28(3):211–217. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044382
• Shults RA, Shaw KM, Yellman MA, Jones SE. Does geographic location matter for transportation risk behaviors among U.S. public high school students?. J Transp Health. 2021;22:101134. doi:10.1016/j.jth.2021.101134
• Jones JM, Shults RA, Robinson B, Komatsu KK, Sauber-Schatz EK. Marijuana and alcohol use among injured drivers evaluated at level I trauma centers in Arizona, 2008–2014. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019;204:107539. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.06.041
• Shults RA, Jones JM, Komatsu KK, Sauber-Schatz EK. Alcohol and marijuana use among young injured drivers in Arizona, 2008–2014. Traffic Inj Prev. 2019;20(1):9–14. doi:10.1080/15389588.2018.1527032
• Jewett A, Peterson AB, Sauber-Schatz EK. Exploring substance use and impaired driving among adults aged 21 years and older in the United States, 2015. Traffic Inj Prev. 2018;19(7):693–700. doi:10.1080/15389588.2018.1479525
• Downs J, Shults R, West B. Attitudes toward mandatory ignition interlocks for all offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated. J Safety Res. 2017;63:99–103. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2017.08.002
• Voas RB, Tippetts AS, Bergen G, Grosz M, Marques P. Mandating Treatment Based on Interlock Performance: Evidence for Effectiveness. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016;40(9):1953–1960. doi:10.1111/acer.13149
• Xiao D, Pengpeng Y, Yichong L, Leilei D, Limin W, Shults RA, Roehler DR, Yee SL. Prevalence of drink-driving among adults in China: A nationally representative survey in 2010. Traffic Inj Prev. 2017;18(8):795–800. doi:10.1080/15389588.2016.1161760
• Haegerich TM, Shults RA, Oman RF, Vesely SK. The Predictive Influence of Youth Assets on Drinking and Driving Behaviors in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. J Prim Prev. 2016;37(3):231–245. doi:10.1007/s10935-016-0418-7
• Dellinger AM, West BA. Health Care providers and Teen Driving Safety: Topics Discussed and Educational Resources Used in Practice. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2015;9(6):451–456. doi:10.1177/1559827614554903
• Sebego M, Naumann RB, Rudd RA, Voetsch K, Dellinger AM, Ndlovu C. The impact of alcohol and road traffic policies on crash rates in Botswana, 2004–2011: A time-series analysis. Accid Anal Prev. 2014;70:33–39. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2014.02.017
• Bergen G, Yao J, Shults RA, Romano E, Lacey JH. Characteristics of designated drivers and their passengers from the 2007 National Roadside Survey in the United States. Traffic Inj Prev. 2014;15(3):273–277. doi:10.1080/15389588.2013.810334
• Bergen G, Pitan A, Qu S, Shults RA, Chattopadhyay SK, Elder RW, Sleet DA, Coleman HL, Compton RP, Nichols JL, Clymer JM, Calvert WB; Community Preventive Services Task Force. Publicized sobriety checkpoint programs: a community guide systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2014 May;46(5):529–539. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2014.01.018
• Quinlan K, Shults RA, Rudd RA. Child passenger deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers. Pediatrics. 2014;133(6):966–972. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2318
• Bergen G, Shults RA, Beck LF, Qayad M. Self-reported alcohol-impaired driving in the U.S., 2006 and 2008. Am J Prev Med. 2012;42(2):142–149. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.015
• Williams AF, West BA, Shults RA. Fatal Crashes of 16- to 17-Year-Old Drivers Involving Alcohol, Nighttime Driving, and Passengers. Traffic Inj Prev. 2012;13(1):1–6. doi:10.1080/15389588.2011.633235

• Yellman MA, Sauber-Schatz EK. Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(26):837–843. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7126a1
• Yellman MA, Bryan L, Sauber-Schatz EK, Brener N. Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Suppl. 2020;69(Suppl-1):77–83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.su6901a9
• Azofeifa A, Rexach-Guzmán BD, Hagemeyer AN, Rudd RA, Sauber-Schatz EK. Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana and Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(50):1153–1157. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6850a1
• Sauber-Schatz EK, Ederer DJ, Dellinger AM, Baldwin GT. Vital Signs: Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention — United States and 19 Comparison Countries. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(26):672–677. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6526e1
• Azofeifa A, Mattson ME, Lyerla R. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Alcohol and Marijuana Combined Among Persons Aged 16–25 Years — United States, 2002–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(48):1325–1329. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6448a1
• Jewett A, Shults RA, Banerjee T, Bergen G. Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults – United States 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(30):814–817. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6430a2
• Shults RA, Olsen EO. Vital Signs: Drinking and Driving Among High School Students Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 1991–2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61(39):796–800.
• Bergen G, Shults RA, Rudd RA. Vital Signs: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults — United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(39):1351–1356.
• Shults RA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child Passenger Deaths Involving Drinking Drivers — United States, 1997–2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53(4):77–79.

• Hultgren BA, Guttmannova K, Lee CM, Acuna D, Cooper RL, Kilmer JR, Cadigan JM, Calhoun BH, Larimer ME. Daily level predictors of impaired driving behaviors in young adults: Protocol design for utilizing daily assessments. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(9):e0275190. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0275190