Citation

Zylman R. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1972; 16: 250-268.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1972, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

What society is doing about the alcohol-affected crash problem may be more a part of the problem than of the cure. Elements of the problem are described in words that have different meanings to different people, and research studies are frequently misinterpreted, misapplied, misquoted, ignored or not read. As a result, exaggerated numbers of traffic deaths are attributed to alcohol, alcoholics are blamed for more than their share of fatal crashes, and the number of drunken drivers on the road have been inflated. Such terms as "had been drinking" or "related to alcohol" are misleading. The lack of knowledge as to what constitutes either "safe" or illegal BACs in relation to one's own drinking is widespread. The single most important countermeasure that can be applied is a reexamination of available reliable data. There is a need for an interdisciplinary agency or center to gather, evaluate and assimilate research reports and to disseminate useful information.