The effects of minimum legal drinking age 21 laws on alcohol-related driving in the United States.

Objective: To examine trends in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related crashes among people younger than 21 in the United States and to review evidence on the effects of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws.

Methods: Trends in alcohol-related crashes and alcohol consumption among young people were examined, and studies on the effects of lowering and raising the drinking age were reviewed.

Results: MLDA laws underwent many changes during the 20th century in the United States.

Effects of in-vehicle monitoring on the driving behavior of teenagers.

Objectives: The objective was to determine if teenage driving behavior improves when a monitoring and feedback device is installed in the teen's vehicle.

Methods: Vehicles of 85 teenage drivers were fit with a device that detected all instances of sudden braking/acceleration, speeding, and nonuse of seat belts. Drivers were assigned randomly to one of four research groups, differing in whether or not an alert sounded in the vehicle and whether or not parents were given access to websites containing notification records.

Making the most of the worst-case scenario: should belt-positioning booster seats be used in lap-belt-only seating positions?

Objective: Examine real-world crash injury data to determine whether children seated with lap belts only are better protected with or without belt-positioning booster seats.

Methods: Crash injury rates among booster-age children were examined for three restraint categories: lap belt only, belt-positioning booster seat with lap belt, and booster seat with lap/shoulder belt. Data were drawn from the National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) and the Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) crash surveillance system for years 1997-2006 and 1998-2006, respectively.

Does the Maryland graduated driver licensing law affect both 16-year-old drivers and those who share the road with them?

Problem: To assess effects of the 1999 Maryland graduated driver licensing (GDL) law on both 16-year-old drivers and other road users.

Method: Calculation and comparison of crash involvement rates and non-fatal injury rates pre-GDL (1996-1998) and post-GDL (2001-2003) by type of road user, per population, and per licensed driver, with adjustment for trends among 30-59-year-old drivers.

Results: Post-GDL, prevalence of licensure decreased 24% among 16-year-olds, and rates of 16-year-old drivers involved in crashes significantly decreased per 16-year-old population (corrected rate ratio (RRc) 0.

Crashes of novice teenage drivers: characteristics and contributing factors.

Objective: The initial months of licensure are especially hazardous for teenagers. Factors leading to crashes of novice 16-year-old drivers were identified.

Method: Sixteen year-olds in Connecticut who were involved in nonfatal crashes during the first 8 months of licensure were interviewed, and police crash reports were examined.

Factors leading to older drivers' intersection crashes.

Objectives: Older drivers are overinvolved in intersection crashes compared with younger drivers, but the reasons are not clearly understood. The purpose of the present study was to identify the factors that lead to older drivers' intersection crashes.

Method: Study participants were composed of two groups of older drivers -- ages 70-79 (n = 78) and 80 and older (n = 76) -- and a comparison group of drivers ages 35-54 (n = 73); all were at fault in intersection crashes involving nonfatal injuries.

Effectiveness and driver acceptance of the Honda belt reminder system.

Objective: Prior research suggests that vehicle-based seat belt reminder systems can produce moderate increases in belt use rates. However, these findings were based on a limited set of Ford vehicles in one geographic location. As more vehicles with reminder systems enter the market, it is important to determine their effectiveness as well as acceptance by consumers.