ALCOHOL IN FATAL TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHES

A series of 150 fatal crashes involving tractor trailers was studied retrospectively. Twenty-five tractor trailer drivers and 63 drivers of other vehicles died and were tested for alcohol. About one-third in each group had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.10% by weight or more. Of 17 tractor trailer drivers apparently responsible for crashes, 8 had illegal alcohol concentrations (0.10% or more). Only 2% of the surviving drivers were charged with driving while intoxicated or impaired. Recommendations include implementation of the federal standard calling for quantitative tests for alcohol, where practicable, on all drivers (including surviving drivers) in crashes fatal to other persons.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the 19th Conference. Sponsored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Maryland Chief Medical Examiner Office.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association for Automotive Medicine

  801 Green Bay Road
  Lake Bluff, IL  United States  60044
• Authors:
  • Baker, S P
• Conference:
  • 19th Annual Conference of the American Association for Automotive Medicine
  • Date: 1975-11-0 to 1975-11-0
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Blood alcohol levels; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Highway safety; Tractor trailer combinations; Truck drivers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131950
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 5 1976 12:00AM