Is it true that 21- to 22-year-olds have the lowest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes with BAC levels of .08% or higher?

Is it true that 21- to 22-year-olds have the lowest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes with BAC levels of .08% or higher?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Sure
• D. Depends on the year

Answer: (B)

Understanding how age relates to alcohol impairment in fatal crashes helps here. The threshold of .08% BAC marks alcohol impairment in many laws, and data show that younger adults, especially those in the early twenties, actually have a relatively high share of fatal crashes where the driver’s BAC is at or above .08%. So saying that 21- to 22-year-olds have the lowest percentage is not accurate. The group with the lowest elevated-BAC involvement tends to be older drivers, who show smaller shares of fatal crashes with a high BAC. Therefore, this statement is false.

Understanding how age relates to alcohol impairment in fatal crashes helps here. The threshold of .08% BAC marks alcohol impairment in many laws, and data show that younger adults, especially those in the early twenties, actually have a relatively high share of fatal crashes where the driver’s BAC is at or above .08%. So saying that 21- to 22-year-olds have the lowest percentage is not accurate. The group with the lowest elevated-BAC involvement tends to be older drivers, who show smaller shares of fatal crashes with a high BAC. Therefore, this statement is false.