A PROFILE OF FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ALCOHOL

Accident investigation studies were conducted during 1971-75 in the cities of Boston, Baltimore, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque where Alcohol Safety Action Programs (ASAPs) were operating. Analysis of the four studies, plus newly available data on fatal crashes revealed salient fatal accident characteristics associated with alcoholo: Single vehicle accidents are overrepresented and in multiple vehicle accidents the alcohol involved vehicle is the striking vehicle. The accidents tend to accur between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on weekends, involve older model vehicles which are probably poorly maintained, and there is an increased risk that speeding or travelling too fast for conditions is involved. An aggregate profile of the driver who typically was drinking and responsible for the crash appears to be a male, 20-35 years of age, who has no more than a high school education, is single, separated or divorced, has an increased risk of having a previous DWI arrest, or two or more speeding violations, may have a suspended or revoked license at the time of the crash, and is a heavy social or problem drinker. The findings suggest that the profile be utilized once the driver is brought into the system (for a DWI arrest or a second or third speeding violation) for further screening purposes and the appropriate countermeasure action. Published in proceedings of Conference of the American Association for Medicine (21st), Vancouver, British Columbia, 15-17 Sep 77.

Media Info

  • Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00169197
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transportation Statistical Reference File, TSC
  • Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-802 711
  • Files: NTIS, TSR, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM