Lowering the legal alcohol limits for driving: expected changes in the prevalence of positive tests

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Gaceta Sanitaria Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.gaceta.2025.102463

Manuela Alcañiz, Montserrat Guillen, Miguel Santolino

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To estimate the increase in the prevalence rate of drivers testing positive for alcohol when lowering the breath alcohol content (BrAC) limit from 0.25 to 0.10 mg/l.

Method

A cross-sectional study using a sample of 8320 breath tests from a mandatory roadside random survey conducted on interurban roads in Catalonia in 2019.

Results

The percentage of drivers with a BrAC >0.10 mg/L was 3.8% (95%CI: 3.2-4.4), more than twice the percentage with a BrAC >0.25 mg/L (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2-2.0). Males (4.0%, 95%CI: 3.3-4.6 vs. 1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2-2.0) and those aged over 65 years (4.3%, 95%CI: 2.2-6.4. vs. 0.8%, 95%CI: 0.2-1.5) are particularly impacted by the alcohol limit reduction.

Conclusions

This study identifies the groups likely to be most affected by a reduction of the legal BrAC limit, highlighting the need for targeted awareness campaigns on the risks of drinking and driving.

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来源期刊

Gaceta Sanitaria 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

5.30%

发文量

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： Gaceta Sanitaria (Health Gazette) is an international journal that accepts articles in Spanish and in English. It is the official scientific journal of the Sociedad Española de Salud Publica y Administración Sanitaria (Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration) (SESPAS). The Journal publishes 6 issues per year on different areas of Public Health and Health Administration, including: -Applied epidemiology- Health prevention and promotion- Environmental health- International health- Management and assessment of policies and services- Health technology assessments- Health economics. The editorial process is regulated by a peer review system. It publishes original works, reviews, opinion articles, field and methodology notes, protocols, letters to the editor, editorials, and debates.