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Random Alcohol Testing Reduced Alcohol-Involved Fatal Crashes of Drivers of Large Trucks
Cecelia B. Snowden, Ted R. Miller, Geetha M. Waehrer, Rebecca S. Spicer
Objective: This study examined the impact of random alcohol testing, implemented on August 1, 1994, on the likelihood that the driver of a large truck involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash was alcohol-involved. Method: Among fatal crashes, the proportion of alcohol-positive large truck drivers (intervention group) was compared with the proportion of alcohol-positive light passenger vehicle drivers (control group). Annual Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data (19882003) were compiled for each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the control and intervention groups. Using these pooled cross-sectional data, logistic regression modeled the likelihood that a driver was alcohol-positive (blood alcohol concentration > 0) before compared with after random alcohol testing. We attributed the difference-in-difference (the difference in likelihoods of being alcohol positive pretesting versus post-testing in large truck versus passenger vehicle drivers) to the impact of random testing. Results: Drivers of large trucks were 18.6% less likely to be alcohol-involved after random testing was implemented than before random testing (odds ratio [OR] 0.814, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7130.930). The control group of passenger car drivers was 4.7% less likely to be alcohol-involved after random testing was implemented (OR 0.953, 95% CI: 0.9240.983). The net reduction in the odds of alcohol involvement for drivers of large trucks was 14.5% (OR 0.855, 95% CI: 0.7480.976). Conclusions: Controlling for the general declining trend in alcohol-involved drivers in fatal crashes, random alcohol testing was correlated with a 14.5% reduction in alcohol involvement among large truck drivers. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 68: 634-640, 2007)
