# Not a Sip: Effects of Zero Tolerance Laws on Road Traffic Fatalities

## TL;DR

This study examines the impact of zero tolerance laws on road traffic fatalities and finds no significant reduction in deaths or alcohol consumption.

## Contribution

The study provides new empirical evidence on the effectiveness of zero tolerance laws in reducing traffic fatalities.

## Key findings

- Adoption of zero tolerance laws did not lead to sizable reductions in traffic fatalities.
- There was an increase in injury counts following the implementation of these laws.
- No significant changes in alcohol consumption were observed.

## Abstract

A substantial proportion of alcohol related fatalities and their consequences are preventable, prompting policymakers to implement measures aimed at reducing these deaths. I exploit time and geographic variation in the adoption of zero‐tolerance laws in a difference‐in‐differences design to study the impact of these regulations on traffic‐related incidents. Using county‐level data, I find no sizable reductions in fatalities and an increase in injury counts after the adoption of such laws. I do not find significant changes in several measures of alcohol consumption, consistent with the lack of reduction in driving fatalities.