Impact of the 1970 legal BAC 0.05 mg% limit legislation on drunk-driver-involved traffic fatalities, accidents, and DWI in Japan

Official statistics of motor vehicle fatality data have indicated that alco hol involvement in fatal crashes has declined substantially in Japan since 1970. The national campaign against drunken driving in Japan provides a nat ural experiment in which to test the predictions of deterrence theory. Util izing official data over the 1960-1995 period, we report conclusive evidenc e that 1970s legislation is having a measurable and long-term effect on alc ohol-related motor vehicle fatalities. Enactment of the lower legal blood a lcohol limit with a combination of other severe sanctions has been more des irable in the prevention of alcohol-related fatalities in the long term as shown in this study. Further extensive research is necessary to investigate performance at the lower legal limit in other societies in order to inspir e a strong "international lobby" to support the reduced legal blood alcohol limit for drivers all over the world, as there is no doubt that a reductio n in alcohol-impaired driving will result in a substantial savings of human lives and resource worldwide.