Citation

Cook LJ, Knight S, Olson LM. J. Saf. Res. 2005; 36(5): 491-493.

Affiliation

University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Utah CODES, The Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, P.O. Box 581289, Salt Lake City, UT 84158–1289, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2005.10.010

PMID

16298395

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to determine the characteristics of and outcomes associated with aggressive driving crashes compared to both DUI and other (non-DUI and non-aggressive) crashes.

Our analysis used three Utah statewide databases: MVC records from 1992-2003, obtained from our Department of Transportation; emergency department (ED) visits from 1996â??2002, and hospital inpatient discharge records from 1992â??2002 obtained from Department of Health. The University of Utah School of Medicine's institutional review board has approved the use of these databases for this project.

During the study period there were 621,451 crashes, of which over 24,536 (4.0%) were DUI crashes compared to 24,113 (3.9%) aggressive crashes. Trend plots show that aggressive crashes have been increasing while DUI crashes initially decreased but have leveled off in recent years. While DUI crashes are more likely to occur during the night and early morning, aggressive and other crashes are more likely to occur during the day, with peaks occurring at the normal commuting hours. There were differences in the types of drivers between the different crash types. 79% of drivers in DUI crashes were male compared to 65% in aggressive driving crashes and over half (59%) of drivers in other types of crashes (p < 0.001). Also, drivers in aggressive crashes were more likely to be younger than drivers in DUI and drivers in other types of crashes. Crash severity, injury severity, and inpatient charges were compared.

Our findings suggest that aggressive driving and DUI need further attention and public education and other efforts to lower the morbidity and mortality associated with these crashes. Results from this study may be used to identify target populations for interventions for both aggressive and DUI crashes and to educate the public about the dangers of DUI and aggressive driving.