The Long Beach/Fort Lauderdale relative risk study.
OBJECTIVE
The role of alcohol as a major factor in traffic crash causation has been firmly established. However, controversy remains as to the precise shape of the relative risk function and the BAC at which crash risk begins to increase.


METHODS
This study used a case-control design in two locations: Long Beach, California, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Data were collected on 2,871 crashes of all severities and a matched control group of drivers selected from the same time, location, and direction of travel as the crash drivers. Of the 14,985 sample drivers, 81.3% of the crash drivers and 97.9% of the controls provided a valid BAC specimen.


RESULTS
When adjusted for covariates and nonparticipation bias, increases in relative risk were observed at BACs of .04-.05, and the elevations in risk became very pronounced when BACs exceeded .10.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide strong support for .08 per se laws and for state policies that increase sanctions for BACs in excess of .15.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides further precision on the deleterious effects of alcohol on driving and, by implication, on other complex tasks.
Dunlap and Associates, Inc., Stamford, CT 06906-2300, USA. rdblomberg@aol.com
Richard D
RD
Blomberg
Raymond C
RC
Peck
Herbert
H
Moskowitz
Marcelline
M
Burns
Dary
D
Fiorentino
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001944:Breath Tests; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk
D000431:Ethanol