Publications

Featured articles

Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs among drivers aged ≥16 years — National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2016–2019

The 2019 overall prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), marijuana (DUIM), and other illicit drugs (DUID) during the past year was 8.3%, 5.3%, and 0.9%, respectively. From 2016–2019, overall DUIA decreased slightly, DUIM increased (4.5% to 5.3%), and DUID did not change; trends differed across sociodemographic groups. Decision makers can save lives and make our roadways safer by implementing proven strategies to reduce DUIA, including lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for driving. Improved data and more research are needed to understand DUIM and DUID burden and determine effective prevention strategies, especially in the context of increasing DUIM.

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.

Journal articles

Schumacher AC, De Crescenzo LA, Yellman MA, Sauber-Schatz EK. Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs among drivers aged ≥16 years — National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2016–2019. J Safety Res. 2024. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.09.017
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

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report / Vol. 71 / No. 26 / P. 837–843
Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019
MMWR Supplements / Vol. 69 / No. 1 / P. 77–83
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana and Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 2018
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report / Vol. 68 / No. 50 / P. 1153–1157
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
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report / Vol. 65 / No. 26
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.

Journal articles from CDC-funded projects

Hultgren BA, Delawalla MLM, Szydlowski V, Guttmannova K, Cadigan JM, Kilmer JR, Lee CM, Larimer ME. (2024) Young adult impaired driving behaviors and perceived norms of driving under the influence of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2024. doi.org/10.1111/acer.15459
Hultgren BA, Guttmannova K, Cadigan JM,Kilmer JR, Delawalla MLM, Lee CM, Larimer ME. Injunctive Norms and Driving Under the Influence and Riding With an Impaired Driver Among Young Adults in Washington State, Journal of Adolescent Health. 2023;73(5):852-858. doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.06.010
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
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Content Source:
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control