Death rates from alcohol-associated road traffic crashes among vulnerable road users in 5 Brazilian capital cities

In Brazil, vulnerable road users (VRUs) including motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, comprised more than half of all fatal road traffic injuries (RTIs) in 2010. Alcohol is a major risk factor for RTI, which is being targeted by the Global Road Safety Initiative (RS10) in five capitals. Few published studies on alcohol-associated RTI exist at the national level. To analyze the prevalence of blood alcohol content among motorcyclists and pedestrians involved in fatal traffic crashes in five intervention Brazilian cities from 2000-2010: Palmas (North); Teresina (Northeast); Campo Grande (Midwest); Belo Horizonte (Southeast); and Curitiba (South). Mortality rates were calculated based on Brazilian Ministry of Health data using ICD- 10 codes, and disaggregated by sex, age, and city. The prevalence of alcohol associated RTI mortality was estimated after applying the proportion of deaths found to be positive for alcohol in another Brazilian capital. The prevalence of blood alcohol content among VRUs was highest in Palmas and lowest in Belo Horizonte; compare 10.07/100,000 inhabitants and 5.95/100,000 inhabitants respectively. The rates observed in Palmas and Teresina (9.91) are well above the national rate of 6.9/100,000 inhabitants. The blood alcohol content among VRUS in Curitiba and Campo Grande (both 6.61) are slightly below the five Brazilian capital cities rate. Blood alcohol content in fatal traffic crashes among VRUs indicates the need for policy reform and renewed enforcement, including increased breath testing. Further analyses can help target interventions toward at-risk groups.

• Record URL:
  http://www.icadtsinternational.com/documents/?category=20th_T2013_Brisbane
• Authors:
  • Goncalves, V M
  • Lunnen, J G
  • Sousa, T
  • Pechansky, F
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 296-301
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol effects; Blood alcohol levels; Cyclists; Education; Fatalities; Intoxication; Law enforcement; Motorcyclists; Pedestrians; Traffic safety education; Vulnerable road users
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Brazil
• ATRI Terms: Alcohol effects; Blood alcohol content; Fatality rate; Law enforcement; Motorcyclist; Pedestrian; Road user education; Vulnerable road user
• ITRD Terms: 1553: Blood alcohol content; 1534: Enforcement (law); 1602: Fatality
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495675
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:12AM