Alcohol-related Traffic Accidents Research Articles

Ethanol enhances JWH-018-induced impairment of sensorimotor and memory functions in mice: From preclinical evidence to forensic implication in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

BackgroundSeveral new Synthetic Cannabinoids have appeared each year since their introduction into the illicit drug market as recreational drugs. Among these, naphtalen-1-yl-(1-pentylindol-3-yl) methanone (JWH-018) is one of the most detected compounds in biological samples from patients involved in intoxication or death cases. Furthermore, consumption of JWH-018 has been linked to several cases of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) suggesting that effects induced by this compound can affect individuals’ ability to drive. MethodsGiven the high spread of polydrug consumption and the wide number of alcohol-related traffic accidents, this study aims to investigate the acute effects induced by co-administration of JWH-018 with ethanol on sensorimotor and motor responses, grip strength and memory functions in CD-1 male mice. Acute impairments induced by JWH-018 and ethanol alone have also been investigated, in order to compare their effects with that induced by their concurrent administration. ResultsIn vivo behavioral experiments revealed a worsening of the cognitive and sensorimotor disruption after the co-administration of JWH-018 with ethanol compared to single compounds. ConclusionsThese animal-based findings suggest a potential increased impairment on psychomotor performances which could be related to driving abilities posed by poly-drug consumption involving SCs and ethanol.

New evidence of high association between carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) and alcohol-related road traffic accidents. A retrospective study on 929 injured drivers

BackgroundIt is well known that traffic injuries still represent one of the main causes of death and that high blood alcohol concentrations while driving significantly increase the occurrence of accidents. However, only limited literature on the correlation between chronic alcohol abuse and accident risk is available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis of an association between elevated concentrations of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) and the occurrence of alcohol-related traffic accidents. MethodsThe analytical determinations of BAC and CDT were performed following certified methods in HS-GC-FID and HPLC, respectively. For BAC, 0.50 g/L was used as cut-off, whereas 2.0% was used for CDT, according to the standardisation proposed by IFCC. A total of 929 drivers, tested for BAC at the time of hospital admission after a traffic accident, were classified into two groups: InjDr 1 (BAC ≤ 0.50 g/L) and InjDr 2 (BAC>0.50 g/L); all drivers were also tested for CDT. ResultsInjDr 1 included 674 individuals, only 2.5% showing a CDT above the cutoff, whereas InjDr 2 group consisted of 255 subjects, 28.6% testing positive for CDT (Odds Ratio 15.5). When subdividing the InjDr group into increasing classes of CDT, a steady increase in the percentage of BAC-positive drivers was appreciated. Moreover, average BAC was found to parallel each class of CDT. ConclusionsThe reported data strongly support the use of CDT as a biomarker of increased risk of alcohol-related traffic accidents in the procedures of re-granting of the driving license upon confiscation for “drink driving”.

The hazardous (mis)perception of Self-estimated Alcohol intoxication and Fitness to drivE—an avoidable health risk: the SAFE randomised trial

BackgroundWorldwide, alcohol-related road traffic accidents represent a major avoidable health risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of self-estimating the degree of acute alcohol intoxication regarding the legal driving limit, and to identify risk factors for misjudgement.MethodsIn this prospective randomised controlled crossover trial, 90 social drinkers (mean age 23.9 ± 3.5 years, 50% female) consumed either beer or wine. Study group subjects were made aware when exceeding the legal driving limit (BrAC = 0.05%). Controls received no information about their BrAC. For crossover, beer or wine were consumed in the opposite order.Results39–53% of all participants exceeded the legal driving limit whilst under the impression to be still permitted to drive. Self-estimation was significantly more accurate on study day 2 (p = 0.009). Increasing BrAC positively correlated with self-estimation inaccuracy, which was reproducible during crossover. Multiple regression analysis revealed fast drinking and higher alcohol levels as independent risk factors for inaccurate self-estimation.ConclusionsSocial drinkers are commonly unaware of exceeding the legal driving limit when consuming alcohol. Self-estimating alcohol intoxication can be improved through awareness. Dedicated awareness programs, social media campaigns and government advice communications should be utilised to address this avoidable hazard.Trial registration The trial was registered prospectively at the Witten/Herdecke University Ethics Committee (trial registration number 140/2016 on 04/11/2016) and at the DRKS—German Clinical Trials Register (trial registration number DRKS00015285 on 08/22/2018—Retrospectively registered). Trial protocol can be accessed online.

CDT vs. GGT for the certification of the fitness to hold the driving license. A comparison based on the association of incremented values with the occurrence of alcohol-related road traffic accidents

BackgroundIn the context of fitness certification to hold the driving license, GGT and CDT have been used, sometimes in combination (γ-CDT), to exclude chronic alcohol abuse. The present study was carried out with the aim of comparing the power of these biomarkers as tools for the objective screening of subjects at high risk of alcohol-associated traffic injuries. Methods288 male drivers admitted to hospital after traffic accidents were examined by determination of GGT, CDT and BAC. The degree of association of GGT, CDT and γ-CDT with BAC was analysed using non-parametric statistics. ResultsPartitioning the cases using the cut-off concentrations of 0.5 g/L for BAC (the legal limit adopted in most European countries), 55 U/L for GGT and 1.9% for CDT, a highly significant difference was found between the frequency of elevated GGT or CDT in cases where BAC was within the legal limits and those with elevated BAC values (Fisher’s exact test: p < 0.001). However, the calculation of the odds ratio showed a much higher increase for CDT (28 times) than for GGT (6 times) in those drivers with a BAC above the Italian legal limit in comparison with those showing a BAC within the cut-off; conversely, γ-CDT does not provide any significant advantage vs. CDT alone. ConclusionsBoth GGT and CDT provide objective evidence of an association with the occurrence of alcohol-related severe traffic accidents, but CDT shows superior association with these events. Therefore, CDT, notwithstanding higher costs, should be preferred in a forensic/certification context.

Road traffic accidents at Government General Hospital, Kakinada, in 2018-19 versus 2019.20: Case series

Background: Alcohol-related road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the foremost threat to the civilization due to premature loss of life. Policy-making is one such tool for reduction of alcohol-related RTAs. Andhra Pradesh state government implemented the Prohibition and Excise Policy for 2019-20 with respect to liquor sales from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. Aim: This study aims at documenting the reduction of alcohol-related RTAs (head injuries and others) after the introduction of the new policy. Methodology: Case series involving all the RTAs reported to the Government General Hospital, Kakinada, during September 2018–February 2019 and September 2019–February 2020. Secondary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, from the hospital accident registers, in the medical records department. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results and Discussion: There is a significant decrease in number of fractures sustained in RTAs from 12.5% in 2018–19 to 9.5% in 2019–20 (P = 0.018, 95% CL). The proportion of RTAs occurring under the influence of alcohol reduced from 9.4% in 2018–19 to 8.4% in 2019–20. There is a marked reduction in deaths of RTA cases, and grievous injuries and head injuries have also reduced during September 19–February 2020 as compared to September 18– February 2019. Conclusions: The fatal injuries sustained in RTAs under the influence of alcohol dramatically reduced to zero from November 2019 to February 2020, suggesting a protective effect of the new prohibition of liquor sales policy.

Assessment of recent alcohol consumption by detecting ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulphate level among traffic accident patients

Objective: This study aims to explain whether EtG and EtS, which are two non-oxidative ethanol metabolites secreted by the liver and used as markers of alcohol intake related to an incident, were also present in whole blood samples of patients with traffic accident injuries.Methods: EtG and EtS concentrations in all of the whole blood samples were sent to the Forensic Medicine Department of Cukurova University for testing Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC) via validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer method.Results: The scope of the study covers 200 patients that were admitted to medical services within 12 h following the incident. Of all patients 16.5% were found to be BAC positive, while 35.5 and 23.5 were positive for EtG and EtS, respectively. All samples with a positive BAC result were also positive for EtG and EtS.Conclusion: Detection of EtG and EtS, minor metabolites along with ethanol in the blood can serve as an objective tool to provide further analysis regarding alcohol-related traffic accidents at emergency services.

Predictors of High Resource Consumption in Alcohol Intoxicated Patients in the Emergency Department.

Background: previous studies have reported that the incidence of alcohol-related visits to emergency departments (ED) has increased, but little is known about how the necessary resources per visit have changed, or about the predictors and reasons for resource consumption. Methods: a retrospective analysis was performed of all consultations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of acute alcohol intoxication admitted to the ED of Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, between 1 June 2012, and 31 May 2017. Clinical characteristics and resource consumption were extracted and analysed over time. Results: in all, 196,045 ED consultations included 2586 acute alcohol intoxications, corresponding to 1.3% of the total. The incidences of acute alcohol intoxications have tended to increase over the last five years, and a growing number of visits have consumed high resources (consultations above the 75th percentile for total resource consumption). High resource consumption was associated with greater age and the male gender (p < 0.001). The main predictors of resource consumption were fractures (Odds ratio (OR): 3.9, 95% CI 2.8–5.3, p < 0.001), dislocations (OR 3.7, 95%: 1.5–9.1, p < 0.001), and traumatic brain injury (3.5, 2.5–5.1, p < 0.001). Consultations consuming high resources mostly required radiology resources (45%); consultations consuming low or normal resources mostly required physicians’ work (45%) or nurses’ work (27%). Conclusions: the number of alcohol intoxications consuming high resources has increased over the last five years. Acute alcohol intoxication associated with trauma is resource intensive, especially with regard to radiology resources. This underlines the need for further efforts to prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents, for examples.

Superior performances of CDT as a biomarker of alcohol abuse associated to alcohol-related traffic accidents

In today's environment in the field of forensic science where continual advancements in technology and analytical approaches are the norm, the need for forensic practitioners with more specialized and subject-specific knowledge is critical. An updated survey targeting the preferred educational requirements by senior practitioners, crime laboratory directors and managers for entry level applicants was conducted. Results underscored a preference for specialized coursework within specific disciplines in preparing the next generation of forensic scientists while maintaining a strong foundation in the natural sciences at the undergraduate level. Practitioners, regardless of discipline, are seeking applicants with exposure to advanced curriculum content in addition to refined professional skills and critical thinking capabilities. The results of this survey reflect a transition in the needs of crime laboratory employers from a general, broad based criminalistics curriculum as described under current accreditation guidelines, to a focused subject matter rich curriculum with additional management and professional content.

Are Minimum Wages a Silent Killer? New Evidence on Drunk Driving Fatalities

AbstractIn volume 94 of this REVIEW, Adams, Blackburn, and Cotti (ABC), using Fatal Accident Reporting System data from 1998 to 2006, find that a 10% increase in the minimum wage is associated with a 7% to 11% increase in alcohol-related fatal traffic accidents involving teen drivers. We find this result does not hold when the analysis period is expanded to include 1991 through 2013. In addition, auxiliary analyses provide no support for income-driven increases in alcohol consumption, the primary mechanism posited by ABC. Together, our results suggest that minimum wage increases are not a silent killer.

Characteristics of Alcohol-Related Road Traffic Accidents in Latvia

Characteristics of Alcohol-Related Road Traffic Accidents in Latvia

Risk terrain modeling for road safety: identifying crash-related environmental factors in the province of Cádiz, Spain

Environmental Criminology has developed a robust framework that provides the scientific support and necessary foundation for crime analysis through crime mapping. This theoretical approach focuses on the situational and temporal characteristics of criminal opportunity rather than on the offender’s behavior for crime prevention. In the scope of road safety and traffic crashes, few studies have adopted this approach. This study used risk terrain modeling (RTM), developed by the Rutgers Center on Public Security, to determine the relative importance of varying environmental risk factors on alcohol-related crashes and traffic accidents. The independent variables consisted of a set of potential environmental risk factors, while the dependent variable comprised all DWI crashes and traffic accidents in the province of Cadiz in 2012. According to the results of the current study, restaurant locations are spatially associated with the occurrence of drunk driving crashes, while proximity restaurants and recreational lodging centers correlate with the sites of traffic accidents.

The Effect of Gorbachevs Anti-alcohol Campaign on Road Traffic Accidents Mortality in Belarus

Background: The former Soviet republic Belarus has one of the highest road traffic fatality rates due to drunk driving, poor road conditions, and an out-dated vehicle fleet. Aim: The aim of the present paper was to analyse the trends in BAC-positive and BAC-negative road traffic accidents mortality in Belarus in relation to aggregate-level alcohol consumption. Method: Trends in aggregate alcohol consumption and BAC-positive and BAC-negative road traffic accidents mortality rates from 1979 to 2007 were analysed in order to asses bivariate relationship between the two time series. Results: The outcome indicated statistically significant cross-correlation between alcohol consumption levels and number of BAC-positive fatal road traffic accidents at zero (r=0.42; SE=0.20) and at first lag (r=0.57; SE=0.20). At the same time, there was no relation between alcohol consumption level and BAC-negative fatal road traffic accidents. Conclusion: This study suggests that the overall level of alcohol consumption is an important determinant of alcohol-related road traffic accidents mortality rates.

First objective association between elevated carbohydrate-deficient transferrin concentrations and alcohol-related traffic accidents.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a well-recognized highly specific marker of chronic alcohol abuse. The association of CDT with alcohol-related traffic accidents was evaluated to objectively validate the use of this marker for certifying the physical fitness for driving license regranting after its confiscation for drunk driving. The study was carried out on 468 injured drivers (InjDr), who underwent mandatory blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and drug analysis in biological fluids. The InjDr group was divided into 2 subgroups on the basis of BAC legal limit adopted in Italy (BAC ≤ 0.5 g/l: InjDr1 ; BAC >0.5 g/l: InjDr2 ). The control group (CntDr) included 236 subjects holding safety-sensitive job positions and undergoing mandatory toxicological analyses. The determination of BAC in blood and CDT in serum were performed using validated analytical methods based on head-space gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The evaluation of CDT distribution in the 3 groups (CntDr, InjDr1 , InjDr2 ) showed that CDT distribution in the InjDr1 group was similar to that observed in the CntDr group (p = 0.159) and different from that observed in the InjDr2 group (p < 0.001). Partitioning the CDT data of each group into "CDT positives" and "CDT negatives" on the basis of the cut off (1.90%), it was possible to calculate the odds of the 3 groups and then the odds ratios. The odds ratio of InjDr1 versus CntDr was 4.56 (p = 0.158), whereas the odds ratio of InjDr2 versus CntDr was 132 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a dose-response effect was found only when comparing InjDr2 with CntDr. The data of the present study strongly support the use of the CDT test to evaluate the risk of a subject to be involved in a road accident while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Do Alcohol Excise Taxes Affect Traffic Accidents? Evidence From Estonia

Objective: This article examines the association between alcohol excise tax rates and alcohol-related traffic accidents in Estonia.Methods: Monthly time series of traffic accidents involving drunken motor vehicle drivers from 1998 through 2013 were regressed on real average alcohol excise tax rates while controlling for changes in economic conditions and the traffic environment. Specifically, regression models with autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) errors were estimated in order to deal with serial correlation in residuals. Counterfactual models were also estimated in order to check the robustness of the results, using the level of non-alcohol-related traffic accidents as a dependent variable.Results: A statistically significant (P <.01) strong negative relationship between the real average alcohol excise tax rate and alcohol-related traffic accidents was disclosed under alternative model specifications. For instance, the regression model with ARIMA (0, 1, 1)(0, 1, 1) errors revealed that a 1-unit increase in the tax rate is associated with a 1.6% decrease in the level of accidents per 100,000 population involving drunk motor vehicle drivers. No similar association was found in the cases of counterfactual models for non-alcohol-related traffic accidents.Conclusions: This article indicates that the level of alcohol-related traffic accidents in Estonia has been affected by changes in real average alcohol excise taxes during the period 1998–2013. Therefore, in addition to other measures, the use of alcohol taxation is warranted as a policy instrument in tackling alcohol-related traffic accidents.

Acute effects of alcohol on inhibitory control and simulated driving in DUI offenders

IntroductionThe public health costs associated with alcohol-related traffic accidents have prompted considerable research aimed at identifying characteristics of individuals who drive under the influence (DUI) in order to improve treatment and prevention strategies. Survey studies consistently show that DUI offenders self-report higher levels of impulsivity compared to their nonoffending counterparts. However, little is known about how individuals with a DUI history respond under alcohol. Inhibitory control is a behavioral component of impulsivity thought to underlie risky drinking and driving behaviors. MethodThe present study examined the degree to which DUI drivers display deficits of inhibitory control in response to alcohol and the degree to which alcohol impaired their simulated driving performance. It was hypothesized that DUI offenders would display an increased sensitivity to the acute impairing effects of alcohol on simulated driving performance. Young adult drivers with a history of DUI and a demographically-comparable group of drivers with no history of DUI (controls) were tested following a 0.65g/kg dose of alcohol and a placebo. Inhibitory control was measured by using a cued go/no-go task. Drivers then completed a driving simulation task that yielded multiple indicators of driving performance, such as within-lane deviation, steering rate, centerline crossings and road edge excursions, and drive speed. ResultsResults showed that although DUI offenders self-reported greater levels of impulsivity than did controls, no group differences were observed in the degree to which alcohol impaired inhibitory control and driving performance. The findings point to the need to identify other aspects of behavioral dysfunction underlying the self-reported impulsivity among DUI offenders, and to better understand the specific driving situations that might pose greater risk to DUI offenders. Practical applicationsThe systematic study of candidate cognitive deficits in DUI offenders will provide important information on their role in risky driving behavior and decisions to drink and drive. Such information is critical for guiding new interventions for DUI offenders that will move treatment beyond general addiction counseling.

The cure shouldn’t kill

when it comes to analgesia—the main focus of our special pain section in this issue of Pharmacy Today—CDC statistics paint a grim picture: 100 people die from overdoses of drugs of all types every day in this country, 14,800 Americans died from overdoses of opioids in 2008, and overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990. Those figures are just the tip of a very big iceberg. For every person who dies, 10 others are admitted for treatment of opioid abuse, 32 visit emergency departments, 130 are abusing drugs or are dependent on them, and 825 use such drugs nonmedically (without a prescription or for the “high”). DEA, an agency that has always struggled to balance its cops-and-robbers side with regulation of learned professions, has responded by cutting off the supply of drugs to some pharmacies and fining others. Unfortunately, supply-side pressure on wholesalers, pharmacies, and prescribers is impeding the proper care of real patients with real pain. Chris Herndon, the guest editor of our pain section, recounts the Walgreens experience in his editorial on page 49. The company’s current practice of contacting prescribers to confirm the medical necessity of prescriptions for controlled substances led to resolutions in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates about the deluge of pharmacy calls and faxes. CVS Caremark took a different approach. As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, 42 prescribers were identified out of more than 1 million based on questionable prescribing patterns and patient factors (paying cash for prescriptions and younger ages). About half of those did not respond to queries or had insufficient justification for their prescribing patterns; they have been placed on a companywide do-not-dispense list. What is the solution to this toxic mixture of clinical, policy, and personal responsibility problems? I’m sure I don’t know, nor does any other one person, group, or organization. This is a national problem—a crisis, in fact, I would argue—that calls for action. We have reversed such tragedies before; the right mix of public education and law enforcement dramatically cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents over the past 3 or 4 decades. APhA is actively looking for ways to lead on this issue. One solution to AMA’s concern with phone calls from pharmacists is providing pharmacists two-way access to electronic health records—a goal of APhA and the Pharmacy e-Health Information Technology Collaborative. We are looking for ways to work collaboratively with DEA, wholesalers, medicine, and other stakeholders to find sensible solutions. Without action, the number of people affected by this medication-use problem will climb, related problems will grow, disabilities that are really addictions will continue, and patients with legitimate needs for pain medications will needlessly suffer. Your ideas or experiences on this issue are welcome. Join our discussion of this topic at apha. us/PTLinkedIn after you’ve enjoyed your September Today!

The Multitude of Alehouses: The Effects of Alcohol Outlet Density on Highway Safety

Abstract This article reports the use of detailed panel data on alcoholic beverage outlet licensing in Texas to determine the effects of alcohol outlet density on highway safety. After controlling for county heterogeneity, county and year fixed effects, and county-specific time trends, this study shows that alcohol outlet density decreases expected alcohol-related traffic accidents and arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). The negative correlation can be explained according to the reduced travel distance between alcohol outlets and home, but this distance effect does not appear when the number of off-premise alcohol outlets increases. The empirical results of this study show that the off-premise alcohol outlet density is negatively related to the number of expected accidents and DUI arrests. These results indicate that on-premise consumption decreases according to the number of available off-premise outlets. The results also indicate that this effect originates mainly from the off-premise outlets that sell alcoholic products with a relatively low alcohol content.

Analysis on status of severe traffic accidents induced by driving under the influence of alcohol in motor vehicle drivers in Liuzhou city in Guangxi

Objective To study and analysis the status of severe traffic accidents induced by driving under the influence (DUI) among drivers in Liuzhou city and provide reference for relative governmental policy and preventive measures for preventing and controlling driving under influence of alcohol and drunk driving.Methods The questionnaire was designed to investigate the motor vehicle drivers (including motorcycle drivers) in 100 cases of severe traffic accident including at least one person badly injured by DUI and drivers' blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were also tested and analyzed in Liuzhou city from January 1 of 2007 to June 30 of 2007.Results It was found that the constituent ratio of severe traffic accidents attributing to DUI was 48.00％,and the total accidents was 100 including 48 ones of DUI.The incidence rate of the traffic accidents induced by DUI from 21:00 to 03:00 of the next day was 62.5％,and group of aged 30 was accounting for 46％.The longer the age of driving was,the higher incident rate of traffic accidents by DUI was.Among alcohol-related severe traffic accidents,the proportion of motorcycle drivers was higher than that in lorry and car drivers,incident rate of non-professional drivers was higher than those drivers with licences.Conclusions The DUI is one of the main reasons leading to severe traffic accidents in Liuzhou city.More abroad and effective behavior interventions against DUI among drivers must be adopted to reduce the incidence rate of DUI. Key words: Drive under the influence (DUI); Severe traffic accidents; Motor vehicle driver; Blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Alcohol-Related Injuries and Alcohol Control Policy in Lithuania: Effect of the Year of Sobriety, 2008

To evaluate the changes in mortality and the years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to alcohol-related injuries, as well as the impact of alcohol-related injuries on life expectancy during the period of the implementation of comprehensive alcohol control policy in Lithuania. Data on deaths from injuries (ICD-10 codes V01-Y98) of the able-bodied population (aged 15-64 years) during 2006-2009 were obtained from the Lithuanian Department of Statistics. Age-standardized rates of alcohol-related mortality and YPLL per 100, 000 population due to injuries and the impact of alcohol-related injuries on life expectancy were calculated. The results of forensic autopsies were the basis for the alcohol-attributable fraction. The age-standardized YPLL/100,000 of the able-bodied population due to alcohol-related injuries was 2285.6 (4067.5 for males and 573.6 for females) in 2009. In 2009, YPLL/100,000 due to alcohol-related injuries declined by 16.3%, while due to alcohol-related traffic accidents by 51.2% when compared with 2006. However, YPLL/100, 000 due to alcohol-related suicides increased among males. A 15 to 64-year-old decedent lost an average of 21.2 years of life due to alcohol-related injuries (21.6 years on average per male and 19.1 per female). The impact of alcohol-related injuries on life expectancy decreased from 1.14 years (1.86 for males and 0.34 for females) in 2006 to 0.97 years (1.62 for males and 0.26 for females) in 2009. The positive changes in YPLL due to alcohol-related injuries and the impact of alcohol-related injuries on life expectancy indicate successful implementation of evidence-based alcohol control measures.

Effects Of Alcohol Sales Restriction On Dui1 Related Convictions: A Case Study Of Kentucky

This paper discusses the effect of restriction on alcohol sales on DUI related Convictions. The effectiveness of this restrictive policy has been widely debated in the economic policy literature; where the opponents view it as restriction on civil liberties while the proponents project it as a prerequisite to saving millions of life that are lost in alcohol related traffic accidents. The dependent variable is the count event, thus, Negative Binomial Model has been used for data analysis. The data on 120 counties of Kentucky has been used; showing the county status as being wet or dry, the area, population, licensed drivers, number of police officers and the DUI Conviction rates. Findings indicate that the dry counties have substantially lesser DUI Conviction rate as compared to the wet counties. Some of the control variables also have a significant impact but their influence is distinctly less than the dry/wet county status