Factors which may explain the drop in the 1980's in alcohol involvement in fatal crashes include: increased public awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, new and tougher State laws and increased enforcement, an increase in the minimum legal drinking age, a decline in the population of youthful drivers, a decrease in per capita alcohol consumption, and prevention and intervention concepts and programs. Media attention to impaired driving as a public health issue is waning, thus future declines in impaired driving will depend on continuing effective programs and initiating new programs. 5 tables, 25 references.