ALCOHOL AND CRASHES. IDENTIFICATION OF RELEVANT FACTORS IN THIS ASSOCIATION

Factors in the association between alcohol consumption and road accidents were investigated to develop more successful countermeasures than those currently available. Breath alcohol concentrations of a sample of the general driving population (control drivers) were matched with those of intoxicated accident-involved drivers. Two investigations are reported: a survey of the extent of alcohol usage by the general population of drivers, and a study of the relationship between a driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and his probability of being involved in a serious crash. The relevance of the results of these investigations to drinking driver countermeasures is discussed and recommendations are made for further investigations and for changes in current practices. Random breath testing by police is recommended, as well as testing on suspicion of illegal BAC. Separate evaluation of these measures is also recommended, to be accompanied by wide dissemination of information for drivers on drinking rate correlation with BAC.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Commonwealth Department of Transport, Australia.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Adelaide

  National Health & Medical Research Council, Road Accident Research Unit
  Adelaide, South Australia  Australia  5005
• Authors:
  • McLean, A J
  • HOLUBOWYCZ, O T
  • Sandow, B L
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 74 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol breath tests; Blood alcohol levels; Countermeasures; Crashes; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Information dissemination; Police
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00376441
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: CR-11, HS-030 992
• Files: HSL, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1983 12:00AM