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Open Container Laws And
Alcohol Involved Crashes
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DOT HS 809 426

Some Preliminary Data

April 2002

Technical Documentation Page
Executive Summary
Background
Purpose of Section 154
Open Container Law Incentives
Open Container Law Conformance Criteria
Status of Conformance: October 2000
Evaluation of the Effects of Open Container Laws

Public Opinion Concerning Open Container Laws
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References 
Appendix A: Data Tables

Table 1: Summary of Previous Open Container Laws In the First Four States to Enact Laws to Conform with TEA-21 Requirements

Figure 1: Percent of All Fatal Crashes That Were Alcohol-Involved: Six-Month Period After Enforcement Began Compared to the Same Period in the Previous Year

Figure 2: Nighttime Hit-and-Run Crashes: Six-Month Period After Enforcement Began Compared to the Same Period in the Previous Year

Figure 3: Percent of All Fatal Crashes That Were Alcohol-Involved

Figure 4: Percent of Residents Who Believe Their States Should Have An Open Container Law

 

Appendix A
Data Tables

Figure 1.
Percent of All Fatal Crashes That Were Alcohol Involved:
Six-Month Period After Enforcement Began
Compared to the Same Period in the Previous Year
  Before Enforcement After Enforcement  
State Fatal Crashes Alcohol-
Involved		 Percent Alcohol-
Involved		 Fatal Crashes Alcohol-
Involved		 Percent Alcohol-
Involved		  Percent Change
Iowa 263 84 28.1 277 78 28.2 0
Maine 73 14 19.2 49 9 18.4 -4.0
Rhode Island 45 14 31.1 43 13 30.2 -2.8
South Dakota 121 33 27.3 115 25 21.7 -20.5

Source: State agencies/FARS

Figure 2.
Nighttime Hit-and-Run Crashes:
Six Month Period After Enforcement Began
Compared to the Same Period in the Previous Year
State Crashes Before Enforcement Crashes After Enforcement Percent Change
Iowa not applicable not applicable not applicable
Maine 158 85 -46.2
Rhode Island not applicable not applicable not applicable
South Dakota 233 215 -7.7

 Source: State agencies

Figure 3.
Percent of All Fatal Crashes That Were Alcohol-Involved: 
Comparison of States With Fully-Conforming Laws on 22 July 1998, 
States that Became Fully-Conforming Between 22 July 1998 and 1 October 2000, 
States With Partially-Conforming Laws on 1 October 2000, and States With 
No Open Container and No Alcohol Consumption Laws as of 1 October 2000
Category
Total Crashes
1999 
Alcohol-Involved
Percent 
Alcohol-Involved
Full Law on July 22, 1998 
(13 States and DC)
11,907 4,542 38.1
Became Fully Conforming Since TEA-21 (17 States)
14,393 5,321 37.0
Partial Law on October 1, 2000 
(17 states)
13,794 5,619 40.7
No Law on October 1, 2000 
(3 states & PR)
1,975 825 41.8

 Source: FARS

Figure 4.
Percent of Residents Who Believe Their State Should Have 
an Open Container Law: Comparison of States With Fully-Conforming Laws 
on 22 July 1998, States that Became Fully-Conforming Between 22 July 1998 
and 1 October 2000, States With Partially-Conforming Laws on 1 October 2000, 
and States With No Open Container and No Alcohol Consumption Laws 
as of 1 October 2000
Category
Percent 
Responding "Yes"
Full Law on July 22, 1998 (13 States and DC)
90.24
Became Fully Conforming Since TEA-21 (17 States)
87.01
Partial Law on October 1, 2000 (17 states)
86.09
No Law on October 1, 2000 (3 states)
83.57

 Source: NHTSA's National Survey of Drinking and Driving, 1999