The injured intoxicated driver: analysis of the conviction process.
BACKGROUND
The widespread nature of alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions suggests inadequacies in the system for deterring alcohol use when driving. This study was performed to determine whether hospitalization is a component in a "system failure" that allows injured, alcohol-impaired drivers to escape arrest and conviction for driving under the influence (DUI).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of medical and court records of intoxicated drivers injured in a motor vehicle collision who were transported to our Level I trauma center from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1998.


RESULTS
Of the 213 intoxicated drivers in our study, 172 (81%) were followed up by law enforcement officials, and 156 (73.2%) were arrested for DUI. Of those who were arrested and completed court hearings, 135 (93.8%) were convicted for DUI.


CONCLUSIONS
These values are higher than those reported in previous studies and indicate that hospitalization does not "protect" injured, intoxicated drivers in our community.
Chang
S
S
Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest & I-78, Allentown, PA 18105, USA.
Cushman
J G
JG
Pasquale
M D
MD
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data