A study was made of the drinking of drivers involved in personal injury accidents and of the drinking of drivers in the general population. The second study served as a control of the first, allowing conclusion to be drawn as to the part alcohol plays in accidents. A total of 270 persons were tested in the first study. Drivers involved in personal injury accidents who accompanied the persons injury to a hospital or drivers who themselves were injured were tested by urinalysis for alcohol. A total of 1750 persons were tested in the second study. Drivers were chosen at random from an area comparable to that of the first study. A complete testing laboratory, with the Harger "drunkometer" was set up in a trailer, allowing breath tests for alcohol to be made immediately. Comparisons were drawn between the accident and control group on the basis of hour of the day, day of the week and blood alcohol content. The control group was presented on the basis of age as related to drinking and sex as related to drinking. The time and the amount of drinking were related to the time and the number of personal injury accidents.
Abstract