Risk of death due to alcohol-impaired driving in Japan

It is noted that after WWII, the number of motor vehicles increased rapidly in Japan. This increase was accompanied by a rise in the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) and of alcohol-related traffic violations. In 1970, the Government of Japan introduced a law setting the maximum breath alcohol concentration at 0725 mg/L. The law was revised in 1978 to increase penalties for drivers violating this law. The authors briefly discuss findings of their determinations of the relative risks of fatal RTAs due to alcohol-impaired driving in Japan.