Drinking histories of fatally injured drivers.
BACKGROUND
About 30% of drivers killed in crashes have high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.10+ g/dl. There is a question about whether these drivers primarily are problem drinkers who chronically drink and drive-the so-called hard core drinking drivers.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate drinking histories of fatally injured drivers in relation to their BACs.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of 818 fatally injured drivers who were included in the 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey (a national sample of US deaths in which next of kin were interviewed) and whose BACs were recorded by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a census of US traffic deaths.


METHODS
Problem drinking indicators.


RESULTS
At least one indicator of potential problem drinking, primarily heavy drinking, was reported for 68% of drivers with very high BACs (0.15+ g/dl), 41% with BACs of 0.10-0.14 g/dl, 32% with BACs of 0.01-0.09 g/dl, and 7% with zero BACs. Spouses provided more credible responses than other relatives: they were more likely to report at least occasional drinking and driving among deceased drivers with high BACs. For the most direct signs of problem drinking (described as a problem drinker during the last month of life or frequently driving after having five or more drinks), spousal reports suggested the prevalence of problem drinking among drivers with very high BACs was 22% (having both indicators), 32% (frequently driving after having five or more drinks), 44% (described as problem drinker), or 57% (having either indicator).


CONCLUSIONS
Drivers with BACs of 0.10+ g/dl were far more likely than sober drivers to be described as having markers of problem drinking. However, many did not have indicators suggestive of problem drinking. In addition to programs focused on repeat offenders or problem drinkers, countermeasures such as sobriety checkpoints that target a broader spectrum of drinking drivers are appropriate.
Baker
S P
SP
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. sbaker@jhsph.edu
Braver
E R
ER
Chen
L-H
LH
Li
G
G
Williams
A F
AF
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000431:Ethanol