Citation

Waller JA, King EM, Nielson G, Turkel HW. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1970; 11(1967): 3-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1970, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Blood alcohol concentration, social and medical characteristics of the person and type of accident were studied for 1251 highway fatalities age fifteen or older who survived less than six hours. These comprised all such deaths among 2069 consecutive highway fatalities in three California counties. Between 35 and 69 per cent, depending on the type of crash, had alcohol in their blood, usually in high concentrations. Alcohol was found most often and in highest concentrations in fatally injured persons who were age twenty to fifty-nine, males, Negroes, single, divorced or separated, or who had fatty changes of the liver or previous arrests. However, these variables frequently were interrelated. No difference was found between Christmas season and other weeks in the total number of fatalities occurring. Fewer fatalities during this two-week period had alcohol in their blood, and no difference was observed among those who did have alcohol in the distribution of alcohol concentration or in the proportion with fatty changes of the liver or previous arrests. It is believed that the probable increase in drinking and driving during this season does not alter the usual preponderance of problem drinkers among those killed in crashes involving alcohol.