The role of alcohol in road crashes

Abstract

Alcohol is the single most prevalent contributing factor in serious road crashes. One in three persons killed and one in five injured has a BAC equal to or greater than 50mg/100ml. These high incidences are not found in the general on-road population. Controlled epidemiological studies have shown a causal link. However, the nature of the causal mechanisms is not yet well understood. While numerous experimental studies have documented specific decrements in a range of driving-related skills, the role of these decrements in crash causation is not known. A complementary approach is to study in detail the circumstances of alcohol-related crashes. The value of this approach is briefly reviewed.