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Per se drugged driving laws and traffic fatalities

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  • Anderson, D. Mark
  • Rees, Daniel I.

Abstract

In an effort to reduce drugged driving by 10%, the Office of National Drug Control Policy is encouraging all states to adopt per se drugged driving laws, which make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a controlled substance in the system. To date, 20 states have passed per se drugged driving laws, yet little is known about their effectiveness. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 1990–2010, the current study examines the relationship between these laws and traffic fatalities, the leading cause of death among Americans ages 5 through 34. Our results provide no evidence that per se drugged driving laws reduce traffic fatalities.

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  • Anderson, D. Mark & Rees, Daniel I., 2015. "Per se drugged driving laws and traffic fatalities," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 122-134.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:42:y:2015:i:c:p:122-134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2015.02.004
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