BLOOD-ALCOHOL IN ROAD FATALITIES BEFORE AND AFTER THE ROAD SAFETY ACT,1967

CORONERS REPORTS FOR FATALITIES IN ROAD ACCIDENTS HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE LEVELS OF DRINKING AMONGST DIFFERENT ROAD USERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ROAD SAFETY ACT OF 1967. FACTORS CONSIDERED IN A FIVE YEAR STUDY INCLUDE THE AGE OF THE DRIVER, THE TIME OF YEAR, TIME OF DAY AND DAY OF WEEK, AND ROAD USERS OTHER THAN DRIVERS, NAMELY PEDAL CYCLISTS, PASSENGERS AND PEDESTRIANS. PRIOR TO THE ACT IN 1966/67, 37 PERCENT OF DRIVER FATALITIES HAD BEEN DRINKING AND 25 PERCENT EXCEEDED THE LEVEL WHICH WAS TO BECOME THE LEGAL LIMIT. THESE PROPORTIONS DECREASED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO 26 PERCENT AND 15 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY, BUT IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS TO 1971 RETURNED TO THE PRE-LEGISLATION VALUES. THERE WERE MARKED AGE DIFFERENCES IN THE LEVEL OF DRINKING AND THE EFFECTS OF THE ACT, DRIVERS IN THE 20-29 AGE GROUP HAVING THE HIGHEST PROPORTIONS EXCEEDING THE LEGAL LIMIT IN MOST RECENT YEARS. PROPORTIONS OF DRIVER FATALITIES EXCEEDING THE LIMIT WERE HIGHEST IN THE HOURS BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4AM, PARTICULARLY ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. ALTHOUGH THE ACT DID NOT APPLY TO ROAD USERS OTHER THAN DRIVERS, THERE WERE REDUCTIONS IN THE LEVEL OF DRINKING AMONGST PASSENGERS AND PEDAL CYCLISTS, THROUGH NOT AMONGST PEDESTRIANS.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Codling, P J
  • Samson, P
• Publication Date: 1974

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Before and after studies; Blood alcohol levels; Crash rates; Cyclists; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Intoxication; Laws; Legislation; Pedestrians; Safety; Travelers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age
• Old TRIS Terms: Before- and-after study
• ITRD Terms: 1757: Age; 9148: Before and after study; 1553: Blood alcohol content; 1742: Cyclist; 1772: Driver; 2231: Drunkenness; 1602: Fatality; 1556: Legislation; 1733: Pedestrian; 1665: Safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I81: Accident Statistics; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00081095
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRRL SR 45UC Series
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 8 1975 12:00AM