NHTSA Report Shows Drinking Age Laws Saved 4,441 Lives Over Five Years
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January 22, 2009
The 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws prevented an estimated 4,441 drunken driving deaths in the last five years alone, according to a new report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Lives saved in 2007 by Restraint Use and Minimum Drinking Age Laws.
NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly, who presented the report at a symposium on the subject led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said, “Turning our back on these laws would be a deadly mistake. Minimum drinking age laws are among the most effective measures ever used to reduce drunken driving deaths among America's young people.”
The statistical report examined a series of additional safety issues, including air bags, seat belts, and child safety seats.
The annual data provided in the report have been produced by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis since 1975.
For more information, read the press release and the full report.