A CONTROLLED STUDY OF THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL IN FATAL ADULT PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS

Data were collected on all adult pedestrian fatalities which occurred in the west midlands metropolitan area during the period 1 January 1969 - 31 December 1975. From Coroners' records, blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were obtained for those pedestrians who died within 12 hours of the accident. Other relevant data were collected from police files. Control data were obtained from roadside interviewing of pedestrians (matched for sex) passing the accident site at the time of day, day of week, and time of year as the occurrence of the accident. From these interviews, biographical data and drinking habits were obtained together with BAC measures (using an "alcolmeter"). A comparison of the BAC distribution of 344 fatally-injured pedestrians with that of a matched group of 1118 non-accident-involved pedestrians showed the increased risk of pedestrian fatal accident involvement associated with a BAC equal to or greater than 120 mg/100 ml. Impaired pedestrians (BAC equal to or greater than 120 mg/100 ml) comprised 27 percent of male and 7 percent of female pedestrians who died within 12 hours of the accident. Amongst males, impairment appeared to be over-represented amongst the 15-64 years age group, unmarried, divorced, and separated persons, and semi-skilled and unskilled workers. Routine BAC determination for all adult pedestrians admitted to hospital following a traffic accident is suggested as an essential first step in the detection and treatment of alcohol dependent individuals.(a) /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02667045
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 

  RCH LABORATORY

  ,    
• Authors:
  • CLAYTON, A B
  • Booth, A C
  • McCarthy, P E
• Publication Date: 1977

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 22 p.
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Transport and Road Research Laboratory
  • Publisher: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
  • ISSN: 0266-7045

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adults; Alcohols; Blood alcohol levels; Crash investigation; Data collection; Design; Distributions (Statistics); Fatalities; Females; Gender; Human beings; Human factors; Interviewing; Location; On the scene crash investigation; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Pedestrians; Police; Time; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1747: Adult; 1757: Age; 1553: Blood alcohol content; 8525: Conference; 8623: Data acquisition; 6572: Distribution (stat); 1602: Fatality; 9147: Interview; 9061: Location; 1787: Man; 9102: Method; 1611: On the spot accident investigation; 1733: Pedestrian; 2259: Risk taking; 5414: Time; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area; 1788: Woman
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170396
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRRL Suppl. Rpt. 332Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM