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Abstract
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Accident investigation research studies were conducted during 1971-75 in the cities of Boston, Baltimore, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque where Alcohol Safety Action Programs (ASAPs) were operating. The specific objectives of the four studies varied somewhat, but certain common information concerning alcohol involvement and other factors was obtained in each investigation. Some of the more important findings from each of the individual studies include the following:
BOSTON: 39% of the most responsible drivers in fatal accidents had been drinking alcohol or had a combination of alcohol and other drugs in their systems just prior to the crash. An additional 9% of the responsible drivers admitted or were found to be under the influence of other intoxication drugs such as marijuana, barbiturates, etc. without alcohol involvement. Significant over-representations of certain characteristics associated with alcohol-involved drivers as compared to a control group of drivers included previous citations for speeding or driving to endanger (≥2), a suspended or revoked license, being separated or divorced, known alcohol related job losses, frequency of alcohol intoxication and a problem drinker diagnosis. A discriminant function analysis was used to develop a predictive formula for the identification of an alcohol involved fatal accident driver.
BALTIMORE: 54% of the fatally injured drivers studied had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) ≥.05mg% with a range of .05mg% to .41mg%. Of these alcohol involved driver fatal accidents, 68% were single vehicle, 80% occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., 10% of the drivers had revoked licenses, 15% had previously been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or public intoxication, and 17% were separated or divorced. The study also indicated that male drivers most responsible for fatal or serious accidents regardless of their age or alcohol involvement displayed certain personality traits (belligerence, verbal expansiveness, impulsiveness, etc.) that were significantly different from the norm.
OKLAHOMA CITY: The study of fatal accidents in Oklahoma City (with an ASAP) included a comparison group of fatal accidents in Tulsa (without an ASAP). Although the incidence of alcohol involvement in fatal accidents in both cities was not significantly different (Oklahoma City-42%; Tulsa-40%), the proportion of assessed "problem drinkers" in the Tulsa alcohol-involved fatalities was significantly higher than in the Oklahoma City alcohol involved fatal accidents (Oklahoma City-44%; Tulsa-75%). An analysis of data from both cities showed over-representations of separated/divorced drivers, suspended/revoked licenses, alcohol use preferences and patterns, and previous alcohol related arrests.
ALBUQUERQUE: A sample of 220 alcohol related crashes regardless of severity were studied. It was determined that 90% of these alcohol-involved drivers were considered responsible for the accident; they drove poorly maintained vehicles 5-7 years old; 20% had invalid licenses at the time of the crash; 56% had BACs ≥.15 mg % when tested after the accident; 53% were considered to be problem drinkers; and almost 1 in 4 drivers admitted using other drugs at various times while drinking.
An analysis of all four studies, plus some newly available data on fatal crashes revealed several salient fatal accident characteristics associated with alcohol:
+ Single vehicle accidents are overrepresented and in multiple vehicle accidents the alcohol involved vehicle is the striking vehicle. The accidents tend to occur 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 traveling 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. |