Alcohol-Impaired Driving Segmentation Study 60-Day Public Comment 2

August 4, 2023
Ms. Ann Carlson
Acting Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Re: Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; AlcoholImpaired Driving Segmentation Study; Agency/Docket Number: NHTSA 2022-0077, Document
Number: 2023-12102
Dear Acting Administrator Carlson:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
proposal to conduct a nationwide alcohol-impaired driving segmentation study on alcohol-consumption
behaviors and how they relate to potential impaired driving. For over 30 years, the Foundation for Advancing
Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) has been funded by the nation’s leading distilled spirits producers to
focus on three core mission areas: to eliminate drunk driving and all forms of impaired driving; eliminate
underage drinking; and empower adults to make responsible alcohol choices. Responsibility.org supports
NHTSA’s efforts to utilize research and data to obtain information about “attitudes and behaviors related to
alcohol-impaired driving that will be used to enhance and refine communication strategy and tactics” in the
targeted 21–54-year adult age range.
While long-term trends continue to show an overall decline in drunk driving fatalities since record keeping began
in 1982, Responsibility.org is extremely concerned that 2021 NHTSA data shows risky driving behaviors, such as
alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, and unrestrained vehicle occupants, continues to perpetuate the rise in
traffic-related deaths. Specifically,
•

The 21- to 24-year-old age group and the 25- to 34-year-old age group had the highest
percentages (27% each) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes compared to other age
groups in 2021. This is followed by 35–44-year-olds (23%) and 45-54 years olds (20%).
•

Male drivers are more likely to be involved in an alcohol-impaired fatal traffic crash than female
drivers (22% compared to 17%). In 2021, there were about 4 male alcohol-impaired drivers involved
for every female alcohol-impaired driver involved (9,693 versus 2,531). When looking at all drivers
involved in fatal crashes, there were almost 3 male drivers for every female driver.
These statistics have reinforced Responsibility.org’s commitment to promote alcohol responsibility and safe
driving practices. We believe that public awareness campaigns are a key component of a comprehensive
approach to address and prevent alcohol impaired driving. We applaud the agency’s use of data and research to
ensure it tailors communications to reach this key adult driver audience and Responsibilty.org stands ready to
assist the agency in all efforts to eliminate drunk and drug impaired driving.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at
Leslie.Kimball@Responsibility.org.

Sincerely,

Leslie Kimball
Executive Director
Responsibility.org