Advancing youth transportation safety in North Carolina through addressing alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyze trends in youth transportation fatalities and injuries in North Carolina (NC), assess the implementation of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in the United States and abroad, discuss policy implications for IIDs, and highlight health equity considerations related to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). MVCs cause the highest number of unintentional injury-related deaths for children and teenagers in NC, and policymakers should pay special attention to MVCs related to alcohol consumption. IIDs are effective in reducing collision rates and recidivism for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Ignition interlock device requirements have been increasingly implemented globally over the past three decades. However, the adoption of stricter IID policies after first-time DUI offenses in NC and across the U.S. is a prudent public health measure to enhance transportation safety for both adults and children. Evidence-based interventions such as IIDs must also strive to address inequities in transportation safety, and the framing of proposed policies should reflect the tenets of cultural humility.