Research concerned with alcohol-related (A/R) arrests and accidents has focused on men, in part because drinking and driving has traditionally been a male phenomenon. In recent years, however, women's roles have undergone dramatic changes, e.g., increases in the number of single and divorced women, delays in marriage and childbearing, and increased numbers in the work force. These and other factors may have had an impact on the drinking and driving behavior of women.

This paper examines the involvement of North Carolina female drivers for the period 1976 through 1984 and reports on trends in driver licensing, arrests for drinking and driving, total crashes, multi- and single-vehicle crashes, fatalities, and measured blood alcohol levels in fatalities. Other factors possibly related to an increase in A/R crashes among women, such as the effects of changing social roles on driving patterns, exposure, and drinking behavior, are also considered. Significant trends pertaining to the involvement of women will have implications for the design and implementation of educational, deterrence, enforcement, and rehabilitation programs.