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This indicator measures the rate of alcohol-related crashes that result in a fatality. Substantial evidence links drinking alcohol with fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. A community may track traffic fatalities as a measure of alcohol-related harm.
- The number of events per 100,000 population over age 16.
- The number of deaths per 100,000 of the total population.
- The number of non-fatal alcohol-related traffic crashes.
- This indicator measures one aspect of community harm from alcohol use. It is also an indirect measure of the prevalence of alcohol use while driving.
- Research has shown that effective community strategies limiting underage access to alcohol and expanding treatment lead to lower alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
- Traffic fatality data are readily available to communities of all sizes. The location of fatal crashes can be pinpointed to the "street" level for sub-community analyses.
- When doing cross-community comparisons, it is better to compare the percent of all crashes in each community that involve alcohol.
- Events are relatively rare and require a large population base for stable trends.
- Caution should be used in interpreting changes in traffic fatalities over time. The number of fatal traffic crashes is related not only to the prevalence of alcohol use, but also to seat belt use, police enforcement, speeding, road engineering, use of air bags and other safety devices, and road conditions.
Hingson R, Zakocs R, Heeren T, Winter M, Rosenbloom D, and DeJong W. "Effects on alcohol related fatal crashes of a community based initiative to increase substance abuse treatment and reduce alcohol availability." Injury Prevention, 11(2): 84-90, 2005.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Safety. 2003 Wisconsin Traffic Crash Facts.
In 1985, Wisconsin passed Act 337, which raised the drinking age to 21 effective September 1, 1986.
Regional Drug Initiative. Drug Impact Index: Presenting the Case for Treatment Expansion, July 2001.
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